Halcyon's luck finally ran out, after having avoided the worse of the rest of Human idiocy, its lack of care has caused Halcyon to have a little bit of a rebellion problem.
Don't worry your not them your the Rebels...
In a decaying Colony slowly falling into complete collapse...when is the magic problem solver person gonna show up?
Never mind that, do what you can on your end and try to help by being, whatever you plan on doing....and try not to break Halcyon guys...we need a home when this whole thing is over.
Why stay Earthbound when prosperity awaits you in the stars? Come to Halcyon: the only colony on the edge of the Frontier owned and operated by corporations!
A trip of ten short years will feel like mere minuets, thanks to the comfort and safety of your very own hibernation Chamber!
You'll wake up in a perfect society, designed to maximize your productivity!
With only a minor term of service, you will become the master of your own destiny, when you go out of this world, to the Halcyon Colony!
Welcome to the worst world in human space, Halcyon Colony!
They promised us a brighter future, but all they've done is found new ways to tear us down.
They promised us just a short term of service, but how many of us are already in so much debt, that we'll need a lifetime to get out!
They promised us a new society and all they've done is recreate the old one we were trying to get away from!
9 Bloody Corporate Wars, and they still think they can put us down without problems!
DEATH TO THE BOARD AND THE CORPORATE SLAVERS!!
Propaganda, and its relation to reality. What you must understand is that this agitator is just making promises, Promises that no socialist movement has ever kept. We can go over the failed states of Medusa, Panacea and others, where socialists tried to set up a society and failed, because they refused to honor their promises.
But then, let us take the board. Yes, the Board. We WILL TALK HONESTLY HERE! sorry. We will talk honestly here. The lack of consequences for lying has meant the board has continually made reasonable promises which it abandons immediately due to costs. Simple, common sense measures, like days off, and health coverage are gone. Instead of giving a short amount of time for people to get back to 100%, people are forced to come in, and that leads to long term health problems ... and we could discuss the effect of graveyard taxes on work force morale... or just using organs as loan collateral... or...
and yet.... and YET!
and yet, the board seeks IMMEDIATE PROFITS! EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE POPULATION IS IN DEBTOR'S PRISON,OR INDENTURED, OR DEAD AND! AND! ...
I'm sorry, I am getting to a point. Sorry. the most important thing is for citizens to be able to entrust a governing body to uphold a social contract. A promise for the bare minimum of human behavior. The state is supposed to uphold this agreement. The state is the most reliable body to keep promises to citizens.
the State by its nature has to form social and economic safeguards of its citizens...and in my eyes, the only way to do that is to do one thing to restore good law, order and principles.
DESTROY THE BOARD! For its many injustices! And bring a sense of Justice to the Population long forgotten.
Once it is over...then there can be rebuilding and only then there can be peace!
Looking for Peace? Looking for a Future? Apply To- There Can Never Be peace as Long as- In short, we have a choice before us.
(Choose YOUR FACTION, and in the Case of the OC Factions, your Leader)
[] The Iconoclast:
The Amber Heights Massacre was supposed to Change things...and they did!! Graham Bryant has opened his eyes to see the ashes of MSI's Corporate Leadership and felt...INVIGORATED! For Too LONG The Board has trampled Upon the Dignity and Power of Others...In spite of the Chaos his followers in the Wake of the attack, The Flow of the Universe has come to you and using the Philosophists Religion and Values of Anarchy as a Guide the Board will Fall...It must...otherwise all this suffering will have been for nothing.
Advantages:
For the Natural Spirit of Man: For too long men have relied on beasts of steel and iron, and let their souls rot. In your retreat to the wilderness, you have found that the harsh environment has revealed the strength of your humanity, rather than covering it in trauma. Every man and woman in your band has found an inner strength, an inner truth, that drives them forward. Where common men, made weak by modern society and the poison of corporations would falter, your men succeed. They are hardier; They are more determined; They are what is necessary to finally get rid of the Corporations
The Survivalist Ethos: The iconoclasts are experts of living off the land. Instead of relying on farms and industry, the Iconoclasts have discovered reliable methods for foraging, hunting and salvaging weapons and parts. While other find the wilderness on Monarch nigh impossible to survive, the Iconoclasts have learned every trick in the book to survive this unforgiving hellscape of a planet.
Grounded: Your men know the planet of Monarch like the back of their hands. They know every crook and cranny to hide in. They know the most dangerous beasts, and the safest places to forage.
What they don't know is how to fly, or build a rocket. Unless something greatly changes, the Iconoclasts will be stuck on the planet. They do not have ships to defend, trade to protect, or interstellar allies they will need to aide. What they know is Monarch, and what they need is Monarch.
Disadvantages:
Grounded: Your men know the planet of Monarch like the back of their hands. They know every crook and cranny to hide in. They know the most dangerous beasts, and the safest places to forage.
They don't know how to fly or build a rocket. Unless something greatly changes, the Iconoclasts will be stuck on the planet. They do not have ships to defend, trade to protect, or interstellar allies they will need to aid. What they know is Monarch, and what they need is Monarch.
Outside the Law, Outside the Way: The Iconoclasts refuse to be chained by a society run by Corporations... but they also refuse to live in polite society now. Unfortunately, this has meant that many of the most unruly and free spirits of Graham's followers have joined him in the wilderness. Unfortunately, this lot of people are the exact opposite of the types of people who naturally follow law and order. Instead, most of the iconoclasts are the types of people who chafe under any sort of rules.
While everyone in the movement is still united behind a set of ideals, they have still let themselves completely loose. If things continue this way, the Iconoclasts may just become a way to free yourself from society, rather than what it was always meant to be; a way to free society from the poison of corporations. Graham will need to more firmly bind his followers to the way, and to make them a shining ideal of what humanity can be, instead of letting the iconoclasts degenerate into a common band of thieves and bandits.
Pragmatic Hope vs Idealistic Cynicism: The Iconoclasts have abandoned the old models of society, dependent on the rot of Corporations. Graham is building something new in the wilderness, based on the true strength of humanity. His Iconoclasts will be a symbol of a new age, and what humanity can become. They will enact the dream of the future.
But Graham knows that as long as the evil of the corporations exist, there can be no peace. As long as the Board exists, it will continue to crush humanity underfoot. It has an entire system under its iron fist, and it will only continue to destroy and rot an poison. And so the Iconoclasts fight. And so Graham and his followers ready themselves for a hard, long, deadly, slog of a war. And each day they fight, Graham loses more men, more examples of the future, more pillars of his ideal society.
And now some wonder whether all this is worth it. For they have made their own heaven, their own slice of paradise. The iconoclasts have created their utopic society, and all it seems to exist for, is to fuel an engine of endless, useless war. Instead of continuing to expand their dream, they commit themselves to a fruitless, deadly endeavor. More and more wonder whether they should commit to the future, to building the new humanitarian society, rather than falling back on old fears and hatreds, rather than just existing to try and exterminate the Board.
And while Graham continues to espouse the belief that they cannot truly move forward until they defeat the evil that keeps them in the past, the evil of The Board, more and more doubts plague the spirit of his Iconoclast followers
[]Monarch Steller Industries:
The Amber Heights Massacre was supposed to change things...and they did!! Sanjar Nadi has opened his eyes to see the ashes of MSI's Corporate Leadership and felt... TERRIFIED!! The change was here and not in the Way he predicted...he wanted sensible things, like workers' compensation, township councils, and things that the People needed to not only be productive members of society but satisfied customers who will support you.
You took power in Steller Bay to HELP people, and to get back into the Board so you can FIX the problems on Monarch and Halcyon and maybe make something better along the way.
After all, a Better World required a lot of Numbers to be crunched.
If only numbers could Unite People...and bring more than Violence.
Advantages:
THE MONARCH Of MSI: Due to the Rebranding of MSI, Legal Loopholes in the Terra 1 Colonization Clause….You and your company…are the legal owner of the entire Moon of Monarch…hence the Rebrand. It not only gives you massive economic benefits but greater social leverage. Among them the ability to give Township grants without the board's bureaucratic oversight. And also in the circumstances of the Board leaving Monarch…all of the Ground-Based Assets they left behind.
Now if only you had the manpower to get them.
The Sanctuary of Steller Bay: Steller Bay began life as a Board fishing and hailing port, but frequent attacks by mutated wildlife over the years had more or less turned it into a fortress. An Understaffed one that has strong walls and dutiful defenders. It also…somehow, has a very active nightlife.
Free Port, Free City, Free Thinkers: Despite or perhaps because of the fact the Board has labeled your entire Moon a failed Prospect for their corporate control…it has led to…almost every anti-Board pirate and Privateer coming here…hoping to start anew, and life Free from the board.
Perhaps…there can be help…to make something better.
Disadvantages:
Monarch's Monsters: Terra 1's Terraforming was sloppy, and mutated the wildlife into giant monsters with thick armor and hides. They will be a constant danger to the Colonists and their communities. But they make good eating, so take the good with the bad.
Under Blockade: UDL and the Board has used the Hazzard Clause to force the entire moon under blockade. Only smugglers and the truly desperate can come here now…and news has to be delivered by hand…its an archaic time.
Disunited Townships, Disunited People: Despite the Freedom from the Board the Townships are now divided…they want only to care about their own grudges…their own issues and want nothing more than to be little nations unto themselves.
You know that this Disunity will be the death of you all.
But perhaps you can use it…to build the powerbase you need to finally rule Monarch
[] The Halcyon Social Republican Movement and the United Syndicalist Unions of Halcyon (AKA The Syndicalist SR's):
Many Tales of Hope and Sorrow come the time of the Revolutions of the Ages Past. The Revolutions of the Spartacus Uprising and the Failed Revolution of China failed to bring the Promised age of betterment. The Journey to the Stars saw little better. The Hilang Asteroid Miner Rebellion that started the First Corporate War, gave many Martyrs and greater voices than ever before. The Fifth War in the Pegasus System showed our Resolve and Organizational Skills to build a better world...The Ninth War...our failings.
We wanted a better World...but all we have is Halcyon...The Edge of Man's World.
Maybe it is worth a Shot here and now?
Advantages:
Underground: Your Revolution and its followers are Underground, out of sight...and out of the Board's Mind and Security Apparatus...so far no one can find you...not without looking close.
Well-Connected: The syndicalists have been around for a long time, and have formed many ties with existing towns and polities. While many people refused to help them before, due to fear of The Board, those very same people now wish for our protection
Hard Circumstances make hard people: Your people have cultivated many strategies to survive terrible conditions. Your people can survive on less food, and terrible conditions will result in less unrest penalties
Disadvantages:
Underground: Your Revolution and its followers are Underground, out of sight...and out of the Board's Mind and Security Apparatus...so far no one can find you...not without looking close.
Divided Revolutionaries: While many champions the Nobility of our Cause...and indeed the causes that come before us...others very much question the methods to achieve our goals in Halcyon? Unite the Population, says the Travelers of Fords Gulch, Arm the Workers, says the Warmen of Pegasus. The Methods shape the means of the Revolution and if a common cause is not found and given...it is a hopeless endeavor to pursue.
Dirt Poor: Resisting the board over the years has completely tapped your money and resources. Worse yet, with the Amber Heights massacre, many people now look to you to provide basic needs like security and food. And yet you simply don't have any resources stockpiled to meet the basic needs long-term, you're going to need to fix that.
LEADERS:
[]The Tranfer Jumper
Bio: Elric Matterson was supposed to be in Tartarus Prison...having been caught smuggling weapons into the Maurader-infested Asteroid of Gorgon in the Wider Belt, within the Halcyon fields. The Charge weapons smuggling.
But the Truth...is far more interesting. At the Age of 40, he didn't look like a revolutionary. He wasn't a firebrand, with more words than sense. He wasn't even that distinctive, being one of many quiet introspective o who always ended up fading into the crowd.
But the damage asteroid mining caused to him scarred him to this day. Physically, he looked no different. But he remembered how hard the mining executive had pushed him and others. He remembered just how many of his peers were forced into debt due to 'underperformance fines'. He remembered several other miners who had suffered injuries because the executives kept pushing for more material rather than safe procedures. He especially remembered the November disaster, where several miners were lost when oxygen containment was lost. He remembered how no investigators were sent (because having a proper investigative team was deemed an unnecessary expense by the company), and that instead, it was the whistleblowers who were jailed. The whistleblowers who only spoke up because they wanted to make things safer for everyone...
Things couldn't continue like this.
He was a humble man, who just wanted to live a peaceful and safe life. He didn't want to be a revolutionary. But that was no longer an option in this day and age. the world had refused Elric Matterson, and it would need to be changed before he could ever live in peace. So the quiet man made his decision.
And the Red Flag rises over his little Gunboat, the newly named John Reed.
It is coming.
[] Local and Steadfast
Bio: Aparajita Desai was a local; Your family has a history here. You remember the tales of your grandfather taking on crippling debt, to pay for his best friend's funeral, (after his suicide, you believe?). You remember your father, who was shipped off to debtor prison at age 33 when he tried to shoulder that same debt, as well as a new medical debt one of his subordinates had suffered. Of course, your father couldn't afford both debts. You even remember your uncle, who disappeared when he was 42, after failing to manage your worsening finances. And now here you were, all but waiting for the debt to catch up to you too. You tried to look out for your friends. You even had joined the resistance, to try and make things better, somehow. And yet, you knew your time would run out, and you would eventually be taken away.
And yet, in the latest meeting, that all changed. It was the normal shitfest, with everything breaking down. People started drinking and yelling about never getting anything done, and just waiting to die and then... Then you asked them to shut up, got them speaking amicably, and said that you were sure you all could come up with a plan that could work 'soon'.. And they all looked at you, looked at each other, and then looked at you again... and then asked you to lead.
And you are so terrified to tell them you have no idea what you are doing.
[] Old Revolutionary:
Bio: Bu Hyun-Ki would remember that scene his entire life. He did not become a socialist during some quiet exploration of political philosophy, and neither did he learn of it while spending late nights with more radical students. No, he learned it when the 7th corporate war ended on his old homeworld of Aurora. He remembers the soldiers demanding every last syndicalist rebel, which was, at that point, every last woman and child survivor. He remembers how intimidating have an entire army ready and eager for battle on the planet was. And he remembers the strength within his fellow citizens in that day. He remembers how common citizens finally had enough and formed a human wall, a thin strip of fleshy humans being the only real boundary between tanks, missiles, and lasers, and their targets. He even remembers how the corporations finally had to yield to human compassion and negotiated an exile for the syndicalists they were hunting. He remembers the first-day humanity won in his life. He remembers that humanity will always win in the end.
He is tired of the pessimists in the movement giving up before they even begin. He is tired of the unnecessary compromise. No More! No More Disappointments! It is time for humanity to win the day, and for the Syndicalists to finally realize the true final form of human society. It is time for paradise, the naysayers be damned!
[] The Fair Deal Coalition Front:
Where did it all go wrong? Where did it all fall apart? Well, you can safely say that Mckinley not getting killed was a start. Farm Laborers, Progressive Republicans...Social Democrats...New Labor.. too many names lost to history. But that ends now. For too many years you've been running from the Earth, running from Colonies, Running from the Wars, Running from time.
Now In Halcyon...you've run out of places to run...this is the edge of the world.
Now...as you stare out into the Abyss you look to Halcyon...and Say "No More."
You will stand in this world or die...no more compromise, No More Retreat.
The New Dawn of Humanity will rise under an alien sky...but it WILL COME!
Advantages:
The Shining Banner, The Common Banner, The Empty Banner: Back in the early days, there was the Fair deal. It was a shining example. It was a promise... that you were never really able to fulfill. But People still remember. There are several groups that are willing to unite under your banner, and typically, your faction has a higher potential of having more groups united under it. However, many people believe your cause needs to be reinvented for the modern age, and they all have significantly different ideas about how you should modernize your platform, often ignoring the very roots your group spawned from. Experience less resistance from other factions to joining a coalition you are leading.
The Wandering Flame: Your group is based on a wandering fleet that you have been operating ever since the first interstellar Corporate war. Your people have learned how to operate your ships extra efficiently, and to spot a defect before it becomes a disaster. Be able to choose to either travel at faster speeds, or the ability to reroll for all travel-related rolls
Code of Conduct: Your coalition has always followed a strict code of conduct, no matter the situation, and even regardless of whether your enemies and/or allies are stooping to worse behaviors. While some argue that this is a mark of your unwillingness to do what needs to be done, many others find your conduct trustworthy and inspirational. This code has been the glue that has kept the coalition together through the centuries and it continues to inspire all your members. The Coalition benefits from increased recruitment rates. Moreover, most factions will almost always trust you enough to negotiate with you (may be asked to act as third party for negotiations between other parties)
Disadvantage:
Extreme Disunity: Ultimately, your faction is a fusion of several different other political groups, all of which have very different political beliefs. Everyone seems to have one field or another that they disagree with everyone on. Its a wonder everyone still stick together. Suffer increased political unrest within your coalition.
Old-Fashioned: Many of your core political principles are 'out-of-date' and there is significant pressure to modernize to account for the modern world. However, Everyone has a different idea which part of your political platform need to be re-invented. Suffer disadvantage to internal politics rolls with any new/joining groups until core policies are 'reformed'; Economic rolls are disadvantaged until core policies are 'reformed'
No, You Move!: Our Coalition follows a code of conduct on the battlefield. However, Many military commanders hate our refusal to engage in all possible military tactics, especially when the stakes are high. They refuse to admit that one must never compromise on one's principles. Our Coalition suffers a reputation loss among all important characters with significant military background. Worse yet, if we ever abandon our Code of Conduct, we will suffer significant internal unrest, as it is one of the core pillars our coalition, and one of the few things all our members agree on.
LEADERS:
[] The bullshark nobody
Carson "Chin-Hae" Da Seok was the leader of the Bullshark party. Which was a defunct splinter group of Bullmoose Party, which was.... Never mind all that. What was important was he got to sit at the coalition Head Council, where they made all their important decisions. His words weren't supposed to have any real weight, since he didn't really have a party to back him up, but most of the leaders liked him well enough, and sometimes he'd had a novel idea or slogan for them to use.
But now things were getting hairy. The council had to run away again, chased away by every political party again, either because they were too radical, or too moderate, or because they acted like sane human beings. Honestly, he had become a little numb to the reasons why people kept rejecting them.
But now they were on the edge of space, they probably couldn't run anymore, and now that it was their last chance, their coalition was finally imploding. The punches thrown in the conference room were matched in intensity by the rioters outside, who had started a massive brawl. He could feel the coalition dying, and he knew there were no more clever words that could save it.
And then someone suggested they vote on an emergency leader. He could almost feel the tension in the room increase as everyone looked at each other and tried to find the person they hated the least. He could even see the old faction lines forming. He could see the 3 leaders who formed the new labor movement edging closer toward each other... until one of them started staring at him.
He turned around and noticed the rep from the Bull moose part also staring at him.... He took a quick scan around the room and realized the tension had deflated.... Because everyone was staring at him.
They were all about to make a terrible decision, weren't they?
[] The Old Guard
Nicodème Clément was a realist. Nico had been born into the party and could remember the defeat of the coalition all the way back in the 5 corporate war. He had seen them lose time and time again, as their numbers failed them, and as allies turned their back on the coalition. He had grown up with the fight. He had grown up with the original principles of the coalition too. The founding principles, the 'new deal' which had been conceived back in the 20th century held up. The new deal was the way forward.
But Nico was a realist. He understood that others had trouble with the language of the new deal. He understood that the party needed more allies or more members. He understood others had complaints about how the document failed to address 'modern' issues. He understood a lot, and what it came down to was that their founding document was important, and people kept asking for a compromise. And he was a realist, so he could understand modernizing the language.
But he was also a believer, and he would never let the core of the party be a piece of Syndicalist propaganda. The new deal had survived nine bloody corporate wars, and it would continue to survive. It would've won if it hadn't been abandoned by the Inclusive Independence Alliance in the 6th corporate war. If it hadn't been sabotaged by the Communist Coalition at the start of the 7th war. If the Syndicalist Society hadn't escalated during the 8th war while they tried to hammer out a peace deal. Every time they had to pay the price every time, in every war, and yet they remained! And what of so many others? What of their principles? Did they live on? DId they do any good? Or were there core beliefs in humanity dust in the wind.
The new deal lasted, and everything else crumbled to the corrupt form of humanity that dominated the galaxy. Nico was a realist. But he refused to compromise in what he actually believed in. Change the words, sure, but their meaning... That was something that lasted, and it would be the future that humanity so desperately needed
[] The Realist Reformer
Komatsu Yori was a realist. She had known the odds of success for the syndicalist rebels on her homeworld of Shirvan. She believed in the syndicalist principles. but would they survive? would they even make a noticeable impact if they won? she was a realist, and when the New Deal Coalition fleet had left her homeworld near the end of the 9th corporate war, it had left with her on it. Because she knew she could do more with the coalition. Because she knew that if anyone could do something, it would be the coalition
Your beliefs weren't worth a damn if they didn't somehow impact the world. She wouldn't be just one of the billions of others that could yell out their beliefs but never really made an impact. She refused to just have humanity if she couldn't make sure it was shared and shared with as many people as possible. She refused to give up on humanity.
And so she has spent the last decade working, forming relationships, improving the ships, and finally, attaining a leadership position, and a spot in the head council. She knows that the coalition needs to become bigger. She knows that it must begin to address so many modern issues, which the corporations have introduced. She knows that the corporations have sunk to such low depravities that it is a wonder that the original new deal document still has anything to say. She knows that the new deal coalition must evolve. But she is a realist and understands that that document holds weight. But even if the document and its words stay the same, the enacted policies and goals of the new deal coalition must evolve.
And today, she sees riots and protests, and an alliance about to tear itself apart. She sees a leadership that does not understand just how out of touch it is with its members. She sees the end of the brightest hope for any socialist cause, and she knows that now is the moment where she must not compromise. The party needs to evolve, or it will tear itself apart, and the only hope for a true socialist reformation will die.
[] The Tesla Mutiny:
They say duty is its Own Reward...but being poorly compensated is a hell most men cannot endure. You had lodged your Complaint to the Minister and the Board, and saw nothing. For weeks you waited...and then you saw UDL Ships being laid in the Shipyards...built by your men's bits.
No More Orders...No more puppetry...THIS FARCE ENDS NOW! You Rallied what men you could...NO MORE SHALL THE BOARD Use good men to die in their WARS! NO LONGER WILL THE INTEREST GROUPS CONTROL US! WE WILL SHOW THE BOARD WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE ARMY SHOOTS BACK AT THEM FOR ONCE!
Advantages:
THE STATELESS DIRECTORY!: This military is unmoored from any one state, and is no longer commanded by an unknown presence light years away. Instead, the soldiers follow commanders who live beside them. Every soldier personally knows that man commanding them, and they have always been far more driven by the desire to protect their fellow brothers in arms, rather than just the interest of some far-off businessmen.
Earth Directory Marines: Some of the most experienced soldiers from the earth, these soldiers have spent decades fighting similar rebellions. Now that they find themselves on the other side, they will make sure all your forces know the best tricks and tactics to use to fight against the Board with.
Soldiers of Halcyon UNIT: Some of the units that have mutinied with you are the elites of the Halcyon military. They have a deep understanding of how the Halcyon military works. Moreover, their access codes work, which means you should have access to Halcyon military communications for a short period of time. Furthermore, these troops have been equipped with some of the best equipment in Halcyon and will have a distinct advantage in equipment over most opponents.
Disadvantage:
Stateless: The army does not have a base or production center it is operating. It will have to rely on trading and raiding in order to get the resources it needs until it is able to establish a base of some sort.
Carry all YOU HAVE!: The tesla mutiny has very few resources, and many of their soldiers were only able to carry a limited amount of resources when they mutinied. The soldiers have limited food, ammunition, and resources, and will need to gather more somehow.
Running out of Time, Running out of Power: Mutanies and in many cases Anti-Corporate Rebellion. Run-on the Threat of Violence and the projection of power, these things are not infinite or sustainable, especially in an area owned and Operated by the Corporations as a whole that has the system on lockdown.
You can't rely on support if they don't trust you can bring results. It's a balancing act of actually strategic skill and management. The Corp made sure the People you are trying to save have short memories.
Good Luck Commander.
LEADERS:
[] The straightforward quartermaster
Kadeem Rizk was just a quartermaster. That meant you made sure everyone maintained discipline. That also meant you took care of your men. You had come up with what must be hundreds of cockamamie schemes to keep the company afloat, and the men fed. You had been going to the commander's office almost daily for months now. And the worst part was, it didn't matter a damn bit, you commander never seemed like he'd be willing to budge. So it was a surprise when you got to his office and found an empty chair..... and an empty safe, which should've been holding the company's funds.
You hadn't seen any of the high-ranking officers today either, you remembered now. You knew exactly what had happened. They had all run. The cowards had all picked up a fled when the men needed them most. You looked back at the empty vault, and could almost feel the physical hit. You wanted to snap. It was a primal rage to snap everything within range, but you contained yourself. You would find exactly who was responsible later. But there were other concerns you had to attend to first. You had a job. You took a second and slowly picked yourself up, dragging yourself to the desk. You tried to remember just how much food your men had, and then you took a look at the computer screen, and saw the emails.
Ration Reports, Duty Roster Cuts....Mechanicals are replacing men in the Uniform... The Slow Decay had hit you like a brick...Halcyon was dying.
And they didn't know what to do about it.
And hell neither did you?
You were a quartermaster, and you had a duty. You were there to make sure to earn everyone's discipline, and that meant keeping your men fed and paid. Revenge could wait a second. But you would have your vengeance. Your men had bled for these empty promises, and you would make sure they understood to never cheat an honest soldier.
[] The Forgotten knight
Hirai Fisher was an MSI employee... No, that was perhaps underselling things a bit. She was one of the most promising MSI employees in recent history, renovating several dead-end projects to finally turn a profit. She had even gotten a posting as an MSI admiral. And She was even called one of the three MSI knights.... when people were being generous. She knew Sanjar and Graham had shined more brightly than her. That they had factions of people inspired by her while she was, at best... a project lead, or perhaps more accurately, a generalist technician. She helped make sure any project fixed its kinks, but she had no talent for leading people. She knew after any assignment, her team would move on. She wasn't the pillar for a new age.
But even if she wasn't as important as the other young geniuses, she was someone who was going to fight for the future. She had discussed plans with both Sanjar and Graham. They were supposed to be a team, and she had almost got everything ready on her end. She knew her command could get everything to work perfectly with a little more time, and she just needed the others to trust her.... And they didn't
They tried to kick things off early, and everything had gone wrong. The whole event was now called the Amber Heights massacre and now, she was stuck on the other side of the system as both enemies and friends had been dying. She knew, even now, that some of her closest friends, the very people she had been fighting for, were dead because of this ... boneheaded... political jockeying... And she was stuck here, on the other side of a Halcyon blockade, with orders to stay put, even as her fleet ran out of food.
She was now stuck with the MSI 'Void Sunrise' fleet. Its not like she didn't like her crew or (most of) the captains in the fleet. It's just that she was never supposed to be stuck here. Hell, she knew she had a responsibility to the crew, but she did them no favors by following orders and waiting for them to starve, or just plain ignoring the fact that she wasn't getting any replacement parts for the critical systems (like the bloody life support system on the Icarus!).
But she wanted to go home, not be stuck with them here, away from everything. She could even tell that some of the captains were trying to make her fail. They didn't see a disaster, they saw an opportunity to lay the blame on her and take her position, damn the hundreds of their own crew who would probably bloody die.
And she couldn't do anything. Her latest orders from the Board had quite literally tied her hands, and she could tell that she didn't have any more palatable legal options left. She and her fleet were being left here to die, and she knew exactly who the late-night TV hosts would be blaming.
But what the hell could she do! She wasn't a real leader. She couldn't get everyone behind her. Hell, she was sure the stubborn captains that had been defying her would take this opportunity to try and kill her if she actually refused these orders. And ... and...
And after the massacre, wasn't it all bloody worthless?
She looked back at the photo of her lover, Shanta Trivedi. She had made several promises to her..... but now, only one stuck in her mind.
"I Promise when I come back I will be helping to fix this. All of this"
It felt like such an empty promise, but was there anything else left for her? She wasn't even going to be there to spread her ashes. All she could do was honor the final few promises she had made.
She tore her eyes away and looked through the window. She knew any action she took now was a long shot. But she had fixed dead-end projects before, and sometimes it took considering options that the Board would never consider.
She knew what she needed to do. However, she also knew that if she wanted a snowball's chance in hell, she needed to make sure that everyone supported her. And she was no charismatic leader like Sanjar or Graham. She needed to get everyone on board if they were even going to have a chance of survival.
She tried to comfort herself, by repeating the fact that she was a very different person from her father... And then she finally steeled herself for the actions she had to take. She sent out the emergency summons to the most ... stubborn captains and readied her pistol. It was time to take out the trash that was standing in the way of survival.
[] Rebellious Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral John Carlile
Age:50
Commands: Seventh Corporate War, Shadow Sector (Captain of the EDS Frigate John Young), Eighth Corporate War, Shadow Sector ( Commodore of the 3rd Assault Fleet, Commander of the EDS Carrier Adam Smith)
Defection From Earth Directorate Forces in the Ninth War, Shadow Sector (Admiral of the Pegasus Defence Fleet in the League of Independent Planets)
John Carlile had seen too much in his half-century of life….War does that to a man.
Born on Earth in 2293 to Military officers in the Earth Military, he spent the majority of his early life seeing the chaos of the Sixth Corporate War that killed his mother. The event forced him in all reckoning to come to terms with the world he inhabited.
Passing with high marks, he spent his first deployment in the final days of the sixth war, learning that people in power like a good orbital bombardment and the excuse "They're non-signators to the Geneva Conventions. They deserve it"
Not only showing their waste but their callousness for human life.
He fought the Seventh War and the Eighth with a cold detached control and dignity, following the law and the conduct of war, even if many of his compatriots and Corporate fellows would not.
This made him popular, dignified and dangerous…he was a symbol of State authority and power, a power that should at least be a peer if not lesser to the Corporate powers that run the world.
State Authority was dangerous…State Authority…meant higher corporate income taxes, regulations and free-market restrictions, zoning laws, clamp downs on tax evasion and worse of all…
A Government that actually DID something with its god-given power and monopoly on violence.
Sure it could be bought via lobbying…but the possibility of it saying no is unacceptable to them.
That was why he defected to the Independence League and helped them fight in the Ninth War, he'd had enough of the Corporations stonewalling his ambitions for a better world.
So he decided to make one himself…
Shadow Sector and the planets within, lasted the longest out of nearly 65 planets that rebelled against Earth at 4 years, long enough to make a government body and hold an actual election. But even then it wasn't enough.
It was half a miracle you weren't put to the sword yourself for your treason if not for one man…the last decent human being in the Earth Directorate Government.
Harry McDoll though a sense of cunning or just appealing to the corporate greed of their bottom line.
The General Amnesty and Work Relief Act would give all combatants on the opposing side a work away from their debt program and scatter them across the Deep Periphery.
You were given a new rank, handed over to work a desk job for the next decade and going to retire in something resembling peace.
Peace…there would be no peace, not if the Board controlled the lives.
So seeing the opportunity…and the means, you gave the order to your ship and your crew and raised the flag of rebellion against the Board.
It might be a meaningless gesture…but everyone else seemed to be doing it, and spending the rest of your military career behind a desk wasn't how you planned on living the rest of your life here in Halcyon.
For the Future yet to be born!
AN: Well here it is...at least half a year and nearly 7k words with the Help of @Anon500 and two replay's of Outer World, it is finally ready for posting, my headcanon-filled idea of people having enough of an incompetent backwater corporate government.
Filled with talks of logistics, tossball team deathmatches and the fear that every turn will be its last as you forgot to deal with something and start a riot.
Outer Worlds...a world that needs a sequel to explain the backstory that I made my own timeline to compensate.
THE MONARCH Of MSI: Due to the Rebranding of MSI, Legal Loopholes in the Terra 1 Colonization Clause….You and your company…are the legal owner of the entire Moon of Monarch…hence the Rebrand. It not only gives you massive economic benefits but greater social leverage. Among them the ability to give Township grants without the board's bureaucratic oversight. And also in the circumstances of the Board leaving Monarch…all of the Ground-Based Assets they left behind.
Now if only you had the manpower to get them.
The Sanctuary of Steller Bay: Steller Bay began life as a Board fishing and hailing port, but frequent attacks by mutated wildlife over the years had more or less turned it into a fortress. An Understaffed one that has strong walls and dutiful defenders. It also…somehow, has a very active nightlife.
Free Port, Free City, Free Thinkers: Despite or perhaps because of the fact the Board has labeled your entire Moon a failed Prospect for their corporate control…it has led to…almost every anti-Board pirate and Privateer coming here…hoping to start anew, and life Free from the board.
Perhaps…there can be help…to make something better.
The MSI Security Aperatus (A Combo of NEST, Veterans, FLEET, and Training) : MSI's security forces are some of the best in Halcyon, and while incapable of acting off the planet, they are more then capable of fighting ON the planet. (All Bonuses from Positive Traits Military are noted)
[X]Sacrifices Recognized (-3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed, personally, in order to save what people he can... And people, not just his people, but representatives of the downtrodden from all political stripes and backgrounds have seen this sacrifice, and recognize the charitable spirit behind Sanjar's actions. (decrease in starting AP, but start with a Bonus to those who share similarities to your Ideology or at least some of your policies and those who are at least somewhat more "Lawful", it makes it harder for the Board to sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws" ) [X]The Union of Monach and its Union Man (-3 CP): Sanjar has always spent personal resources to help grow and develop the MSI union. Not only that, but he has truly listened to the union workers, and attempted to fight for their rights at great personal and economic costs at time. These fights have helped convinced even the most stubborn, radical socialists to at least hear him out. However, his willingness to speak out for the union has only led the board to believe the union is Sanjar's pet army in waiting, and they had curtailed much of the investment into the planetary security forces before Sanjar came into power. But with all the sacrifices made for their benefit time and time again in the years before the now rebranded MSI UNION of Steller Bay and Starbrook gladly considers Sanjar a "Union Man." (Bonus to diplomacy with socialist
powers, and an Ally/Vassel: The Commune of Starbrook Quarry, however, start with less available Security Forces Manpower as you need to hold the City and the Commune.) [X]Mighty Medics (-3 CP): Seeing the chaotic times ahead, one of the first deals Sanjar made was to get some medics to come to Monarch, and help build a proper healthcare infrastructure.... and this decision has continued to hurt your wallet ever since you made it. And all for a third rate healthcare system.... which is still connected planet-wide, and is ensuring far fewer people are lost in this chaos. Yes somehow one of your greatest achievements as things fall apart is the fact that a Corporate Run Planet that doesn't even have total control has one thing the Board can never claim to have fully implemented, a poorly
Negative Traits:
[X]Dishonest Dealer (+3 CP): Sanjar will say it himself that he is not a People Person, that was Graham's Expertise, always being the people person as he filled out the paperwork and made sure the language was clear enough to get what he wants…unfortunately, in a world of trust being shown face to face Sanjar has shown that he needs room for improvement, a lot of of improvement. (Small Malus to all Diplomacy actions with all factions.)
Monarch's Monsters: Terra 1's Terraforming was sloppy, and mutated the wildlife into giant monsters with thick armor and hides. They will be a constant danger to the Colonists and their communities. But they make good eating, so take the good with the bad.
Under Blockade: UDL and the Board has used the Hazzard Clause to force the entire moon under blockade. Only smugglers and the truly desperate can come here now…and news has to be delivered by hand…its an archaic time.
Disunited Townships, Disunited People: Despite the Freedom from the Board the Townships are now divided…they want only to care about their own grudges…their own issues and want nothing more than to be little nations unto themselves.
You know that this Disunity will be the death of you all.
But perhaps you can use it…to build the powerbase you need to finally rule Monarch
1901: William Mckinley is saved from an assassination attempt by his secret service.
1902: Hoping to weather a Corruption Scandal he pins bribery charges on his Vice President Theodore Roosevelt while failing to kill his political career, the act breaks the Bullmoose from the Republican Party along with many Progressive Republicans.
1903: French physicist Prosper-René Blondlot discovers N-Rays, an exotic type of radiation, creating the basis for future N-Ray based weaponry.
1914-1921: The Great War is fought, in 1917 the first communist Revolution is attempted by The Russian Communist Party, The Revolution is put down in 1919 by a Entente Task Force. The War in Europe Ends in November 11 1921 in the Treaty of Paris.
1936: The Business Plot is Fired and makes great headway in the attempt to overthrow the FDR government it is only stopped following an intervention by the Bullmoose Party and the US Military.
1938-1950: World War Two is fought and won by the Allied Powers, who bombed Japan and Germany with Atomic Weapons into surrendering. This Leads to the Era of Prosperity known as the Earth's Golden Years, the United League of Nations.
1950-1994: Anti-League, Anti-Colonial and Anti-Western uprisings take place across the Earth over the course of many decades, only ending in the Bangui Massacre of 1994.
1969: Earth Begins the Colonization of the Moon.
2003: The First Attempt at N-Ray Weapons is attempted.
2003-2024: The First Diaspora, the settlement of the Solar System by Humans occurs.
2078: Anniversary massacre (during celebration of ED establishment, bomb goes off, and a new slew of anti-colonial revolts take place)
2029: The great Solar System Crisis. Due to an extremely powerful series of solar flares, most of the electronics and ships across the solar system are knocked out. While Earth was able to recover within a few hours, Several colonies found themselves experiencing supply shortages and famine, as the supply shipments necessary to sustain these colonies was interrupted due to the knocked out ships. Several colonies beyond the asteroid belt would have to go up to a year without aid, and most colonies were on the brink of destruction before help on earth could arrive. A few colonies, such as those on Mercury, Pluto, and Io, would outright fail, and need to be re-established in the next few years.
2036: The First Great Pluto Push. A new initiative to ensure that the entire solar system was colonized, a large effort was made to rapidly rebuild the failed pluto colony within 3 years, and have a functioning self-sustaining planetary government setup within 10 years
2049: After the Second (mysterious) failure to establish a Pluto Colony, the Directorate sold most of the land assets to several large super-corporations, who then began the second Great Pluto Push, to establish a mining facility on the planet
2058-2061: Due to the continued (mysterious) failures to establish a pluto colony, corporate interests enacted a low-efficiency destructive quick-mine operation, that saw the planetary body of pluto reduced into mineral resources by October 2061. Unfortunately, only 8 mining workers (<1% of the work force on planet) would return alive from the mining operation.
2098: The Skip Drive is Invented, allowing for FTL Travel to be possible.
2106: first permanent colony outside sol system <need more details about planet and system name>
2122: Atlantis Tragedy: floating corporation city of Atlantis sinks due to category 3 hurricane. Particularly important because ED congress refuses to pass the Atlantis Safety and Maintenance act, despite the fact that more than 3 million lives were lost (in fact, more than 80% of congress votes against bill)
2147: New America Tragedy: skip failure in all craft lead to the entire new America colony being lost during transit (1 million souls). By far the highest profile skip travel failure during this period
2188: High General Derya Firat rises in rebellion against ED. First in series of civil wars through 2225, where military leaders jockeyed for leadership in ED
2199: first permanent colony more than 10 LY from earth (first rim colony)
2225: MIller-Doh corporate reforms pass: these include several measures which hamstring military effectiveness during corporate wars later. However, they also ensure more stable succession in military command, by allowing relevant corporations voice during performance reviews. (obviously, corporations should rate generals for how well they are using their products, right?)
2245: first (failed) periphery colony. The beginning of the "decade of dead spring buds", which is marked by several new colony projects continuing to fail
2250: The Fair Deal Coalition Passes the Daggerstorm Covenant. This marks the moment when all major anti-corporatist opposition movements have established their own militia arms
2258: The Vandenberg Citizenry vs the VHC (Vandenberg Holding Collective), ends with the Right to Assembly being restored after the Right was suppressed via Workers Contracts which the Earth Directory found both illegal and Unconstitutional.
2263: Heper Battletrial laws passed: Due to judicial malpractice in the colonies, ED is able to establish the use of destroyer class ships (and above) outside of immediate sol region (>2 LY from earth) as courthouses and prisons. This would lead to the first battleships beings created since 2232.
2265-2268: Shi Troubles: President Shi's attempts to blackmail certain corporations (at the behest of rival corporations) backfire, and congress is temporarily split and paralyzed between competing corporate factions.
2268: President Shi's successor, President Morton, would pass the Morton compromise to resolve these issues, although the attendant corporate factionalism would survive for another half century, until the end of the 6th corporate war
2268: Lincoln Education Reforms: The new 'reforms' on Lincoln which banned any company other than the Education and Childcare Megacorp Tir inc. from providing education services on Lincoln colony, and also deputized military forces from Mercenary and Enforcement Megacorporation, Vahagn Mercenaries Inc., to enforce this and other anti-corruption laws.
2269, April 17th, 1:21 PM: Freemont massacre: Vahagn Mercenaries Inc. deploy VNGHWY9X3932 Chemical Substance (V9 Nerve Gas) into the Fremont education and childcare township, where 'subversive anti-Earth' propaganda is being taught by new deal coalition 'radicals'
2269, April 17th, 1:41 PM: New Deal Coalition attempt to engage enforcement officials with melee weapons. The 'lethal' response by protestors is met in kind by lethal force from Vahagn professional forces
2269, April 17th, 3:38 PM: Governor Callahan authorizes humane measures 26, which frees enforcement officers for the use of lethal force on 'innocent parties'
2269, April 17th, 8:26 PM: The New Deal Coalition Party of Lincoln planet issues a condemnation of "tear gas attacks against children as young as three, for the crime about learning about freedom". This 'propaganda' is swiftly suppressed, and more than 2000 local insurgents are arrested
2269, April: The Crusader Coalition (christian fascists) of Lincoln and McKinley condemns both the Lincoln government and the new deal gang for the Freemont massacre, and once again promises that all children of god will find salvation under the Crusader Coalition flag
2269, June: The Interplanetary New Deal Coalition party issues formal condemnation of event, and pledges to continue to educate any child, regardless of background. They immediately sue both Tir Inc. and Vaghan inc. for their role in the Freemont massacre, despite the shaky legal grounds for their claims
2269 October: Syndicalist-Socialists of the Stellar Flame sector issue condemnation of Fremont Massacre; Condemnation also lists several demands of ED government, including several necessary standards for any fair trial, which ED have already violated
2269, December: Cosmic Communist Coalition of the Stellar Flame sector issues condemnation of Fremont Massacre; Condemnation also promises that the coalition will begin the communist revolution soon, due to the continuing crimes of the capitalist state, and that the Fremont massacre is only a symptom of the wider problems present in the
2270, February: First Interstellar Socialist Congress. The first Interstellar Humanist Cooperative Coalition forms, within the Stellar Flame sector, and declares their independence from ED law.
2270, March: ED responds to independence Declaration. First Corporate war begins
2175: Vince Kain (fake identity) collects ransom posted by the New Deal Coalition for the assassination for any and all Executives and Board members involved in the Freemont massacre. He claims to have killed 8 CEO's and 39 board members. Many now believe Kain was a front for the New Deal wetworks unit, which was later caught during the 8th corporate war (some dispute this, and claim that only a portion of the unit was caught in 2331)
2276, May 2: People lock themselves in a Ba'al inc. explosives factory as part of a union strike
2276, May 3: Ba'al security forces are rebuffed from the factory, and CEO Jonathan Harrison makes a formal request for Intervention by Earth Directorate forces
2276, May 4: Several politicians on Antioch and sector receive large political donations, and concerns about excessive military force begin to pop up
2276, June 5: The 15th request for Earth Directorate forces is finally approved, but several 'convinced' senators who have switch sides push for 'baby locks' amendment to the orders
2276, June 5, 7:42 PM: General Shaikh receives orders to push out the protestors from the explosives factory "with as little lethal force as possible", and to attempt to drive the protesters west towards the tank factories of Westerford and Son's inc., where the protestors would finally be captured.
2276, October 9th: Protestors finally are able to commandeer a ship and leave the planet of Antioch, after leaving a full 93% of the industrialized factories on the planet damaged in some way (including destruction of production lines, jamming of machinery, and banned wall art)
2276: 2nd Corp war begins, once a similar revolt occurs on the agrarian world of Ameretat
2277: 17 more Antioch style revolts occur, and several famous figures, like Syndicalist Hero Morita Miyuki and Dread Pirate lord Nibal Salahuddin get their first fleets.
2280: The corporate Charter World of New Dupont is sacked, and becomes the first world to be 'lost' to the corporate wars
2284, Feb 2: The 9 Factory worlds of the largest interstellar corporation, Ozymandias Health and Beauty Inc. are simultaneously attacked, with several factories disassembled and stolen wholesale
2284, April 4: worlds strongly associated with the corporate rivals of Ozymandias are attacked and decimated, with an average of 7% of the population of these worlds dying in these single day attacks
2284, November 16: The Betrayal of the 60 captains occurs, with over 60 captains withdraw from their fleets and form various pirate bands (all 60 captains would join corporate boards for various holdings companies immediately after the war ended, dissolving their pirate 'groups')
2284, December 1: The 3rd war officially begins with the legislature officially declaring the 60 defecting captains traitors to the state.
2285: Halcyon is Founded by the HHC Colony Ship The GROUNDBREAKER!
2288: The Corporate Exclusionary Zone is formed as a separate polity briefly, before collapsing within 9 months and being reintegrated into the Earth Directorate
2289: They Terraformed Terra 1 (Monarch) and Terra 2 in one of the fastest Terraformations in the Periphery. Later suspicions that the terraformation were botched were proven true by Tsai Shen auditors in 2309
2291, August 3: Hostilities are officially ended with the Burke Economic Accords, which would result in various light economic fines for several companies. In addition, due to the governments failure to enforce peace, they were 'required' to heavy subsidies to all participating corporations in this conflict. The Earth Directorate Government would be responsible for over 90% of the economic payouts and fines established in the treaty.
2291: 4th corp war starts after the Defenestration of New London leads to the deaths of over 1000 Corporate Upper Management.
2293: Byzantium is Founded as the Capital of Halcyon.
2397: The Religious Relocation Acts are passed, which on paper, are meant to distribute holy relics and sites to non-earth locations, to make pilgrimage easier and cheaper. In reality, the move forcibly relocates large portions of religious populations. This act would mark the beginning of Old Religion Schism Period, as well as the popularization of many of the new Enlightenment Religions.
2299: The mining crisis of Kedalion breaks out, in a three way conflict between the Earth Directorate Government, Volus Metalworks, Manufacturing, and Industry inc. and the Syndicalist Mining Commune. By the end of the year, this conflict would eventually spread to incorporate several other anti-corporate political groups, as well as other mercenaries and corporations opposed to them.
2300: Red Mining Rebellion of Ultor: a 3 planet rebellion within a core system only 4 LYs away from earth, and the closest successful rebellion to Earth in history. While Ultor would eventually be recaptured, and the Red Miners would turn into one of many rebellious nomad factions, this rebellion would mark the closest any rebel held planet would come to earth.
2301: Weissman Mercenary Acts are passed: Several laws are passed which encourage the use of Corporate land forces, and gave Corporate generals more authority in strategic and tactical decision making in the absence of an Earth Directorate Officer of high enough rank
2305: Rumors begin circulating about more stringent political laws, in order to combat the rising popularity of Anti-Corporate groups
2305, October 2: President Pierre makes speech about new expansions to the skip gate system, as a centerpiece of his new economic policy
2305, November 16: Plans for massive expansion to the Earth Directorate fleet are leaked, with some people estimating the fleet was planning to quadruple the number of ships in its employ
2305, November 19: President Pierre announces massive anti-pirate operations that the fleet will undertake across the periphery and rim.
2305, December 13: Minority Party leader, Isaac Hamilton, makes the infamous joke about 'shooting up commie babes' while talking about the upcoming anti-pirate operations, hinting that these operations might have an element of curbing anti-monopolistic power
2305, December 28: The New Deal Coalition officially condemns both the remarks and the anti-pirate operations, call them 'The most grievous and blatant attempt at curtailing speech within the Directorate yet'
2306, Jan 5: The Interstellar Syndicalist Revolutionary organization puts out an official statement, also condemning the remarks and the anti-pirate operations, specifically noting how it will undermine political freedoms
2306, Jan 14: President Pierre, as well as Admiral Griffith (admiral of the 1st fleet) put out a joint statement condemning periphery terrorism, and promising all citizens that the era of 'economic sabotage, and intercorporate warfare is over, and will never return'
2306, May 18: An Alliance of Anti-corporate factions conducts a coordinated preliminary strike against the ED skipgate network, leading to more than 3/4 of Directorate planets from Earth. It is considered to be the most successful coordinated strike
2306-2320: Skipgate Economic crisis (Skipgate Blackout): The Earth Directorate Economy crashes with the loss of the skipgate network connections to most planets. It would only be after connections were restored to 50% of planets in 3620 that the economy would begin to be restored
2309: Tsai Shen inc. rejects FTL gate loan proposal from the Halcyon Holdings Board
2311: Isimud Inc. rejects proposal to build FTL gate for Halcyon system and pay in installments.
2314: Tsai Shen ink Headquarters fall, and trillions of dollars is stolen by local rebellion forces
2317: The McMahon accords are passed, curtailing the immediate funding for rebuilding and expanding the Earth Directorate fleet and armies, and instead giving out a mandate for corporations to more actively pursue their own security. This act will give rise to the many corporate fleets which begin to be used in the following corporate wars
2319: Tsai Shen ink becomes defunct, when the last board members and share holders are massacred in the YuanBao massacre.
2320: 7th corp war starts after the Inclusive Independence Alliance (IIA) allegedly breaks the Perdition Peace Pact
2321: The IIA breaks apart into 3 factions, with 2 other anti-corporatist factions also emerging during the 7th war.
2328: ED declares emergency in the shadow sector, allowing governor Liang Jia to assume emergency powers, and instate martial law in all colonies in the sector
2329: The Red Lock Blackmarket Ring is dismantled, unfortunately the imbalance of trade led to a lack of reliable markets in order to meet social demands, and due to the lack of sound monetary assets, entire swaths of the corporate Workforce was locked out of the market, Leading to Riots.
2330: The top 10 largest corporations all declare a moratorium on war crime restrictions during the war to reassure shareholders, and to quickly bring the 8th corporate war to an end. The 'Canceled Corporate Chains Declaration' is never rescinded after the war
2335: 9th corp war starts after the Martinez Proclamation. Right before his own suicide, Martinez proclaims that the Directorate has lost its mandate to rule humanity across the stars
2337: Reformists pass the Mercenary act, which allows Corporations to pocket 20% of colonial taxes in any periphery or rim system, as long as they agree to take sole responsibility for security. Contemporaries understood this to mean that the Earth Directorate military was going through a period of incredible weakness, with many suggesting that the 9th corporate war might end worse than the 6th war
2337: Vice Admiral Carlile defects to the Periphery Independence League's Capital world of Shadow, becoming an officer of note. With him he took 50 line ships of differing types and nearly 20,000 of his Fleet's Marine Detachment(The remaining 58 ships join pirate bands and nomadic fleets). The Defection, which resulted in the ED's 7th fleet functionally ceasing to exist, was the largest loss of forces for the Earth Directorate since the end of the Sixth War. His forces join the Periphery Independence League first as a Minister of War and then an Admiral.
2340: The Periphery Independence League surrenders after five years of total war against the corporate Military complex and the Earth Directorate's armed forces. Carlile and Much of the Army, government and surviving Civilian population are spared the sword by the Earth Directorate's reform Prime Minister Harry McDoll , who passes the controversial General Amnesty and Work Relief Act (the brainchild of the Earth Reform Party) witch sent a majority of the survivors to other colonies across the Deep Periphery, saving the population and Military forces from corporate slavery and reprisals.
2344: Amber Heights Massacre: Following an Opening in Monarch's Anti-Piracy Controls, the Executive Settlement of Amber Heights is Annihilated By Feared Halcyon Pirate Admiral Jaime Randolph "The Gorgon Ghost", the insuring loss of leadership of what would Later become MSI leads to a mass panic as it represents the largest failure of the Board to protect its upper-level operations this century.
"Alright Mr. Nandi, How are you feeling?" your new intern/secretary Cecilia Robbins said as you tried to look at the mass of papers.
You would of course be using a computer proper, your computer by the way, but you had handed it to a medical doctor to help in organizing the wounded.
What wounded you could find.
Oh god...the Fires!
You counted to three "Ms. Robbins I must insist on you not asking for my mental health check, its not the end of the fiscal quarter."
She nodded but stamped her foot slightly. " Sir...the Doctor ordered me to ask."
You could only give her a dull glare. You understood it was her job, but didn't she understand that there was so much work to be done?
"Sir, you can glare at me as long as you like, but considering the problems ahead of us, we need to care for your health, including your mental well-being, even if just to ensure that you will be able to continue to make rational and well thought out decisions to future crisis."
"Mrs. Robbins, I assure you that I'm fine and that there is no need to worry. And considering the current emergency, I would assume we need to focus our energies on the current crisis instead of a hypothetical future health concern?" You replied. You were confident that you wasn't too effected. After all, you had seen the damage himself. You knew many were far worse off than you were.
The smoky smell of burned flesh filled his nostrils, but he was still glad because she was still alive. They just needed to get her to the hospital and prevent an infection and she may still live and why couldn't he pick up her heartbeat!
You were fine. So many others were so much worse off than you. Clearly Mrs. Robbins and your doctor didn't understand that. You had things under control.
You absolutely had things under control. Just because you remembered events from that day as clearly as anything didn't mean you had any problems, and it certainly wasn't something they should be spending time and resources on and-
"May we change the subject to Steller Bay Proper, I'd rather not linger on that day right now." You asked,
"Alright sir. The Walls have been reinforced, and we haven't seen any major breaches yet." She said.
"And the turrets?" You asked.
"Some bastard broke the targeting module and I'm afraid that we are forced to use it as a last resort. It could kill anyone we send out if its active, I'm sorry sir." She said.
"Another thing that needs fixing." you gave a heavy sigh, before mentally moving onto the next emergency, "Speaking of things that need fixing, how about food production? I know we had some problems at the saltuna canning plant, but last I heard there was a proposed solution and they were testing it. Have they confirmed the software fix works? We really need these machines up and running now. Its the perfect season for saltuna fishing, and that will probably be our most reliable source of food for the coming months" You asked worriedly.
Your secretary responded worryingly, "About that sir... The software fix works..... but the factory is working at reduced capacity. It was never meant to handle even a significant minority of saltuna production; those facilities are on Terra 2, not here, but the predicted output after our fix means that we will have little luck with canning and storing much of our saltuna catch this season. Considering our stockpiles, we should have enough food to feed everyone in the short term if we continue to ration out food, but we will almost certainly need to look into expanding our production of other meat supplies. I already have a proposal from C&P for expanding CystyPig meat products production, and I imagine that there will be other proposals soon. However, you will need to decide how much we should invest, considering all the other emergencies that are ongoing."
After a brief pause, she continued, "speaking of other emergencies, I have another matter that I believe you should look at..."
"Its the Fleet sir, Mirai was forced to cut and run following the Colony Wide General Emergency broadcast following the Monarch evacuation." Robbin's said.
You closed your eyes and sighed. "She's not dead is she?"
"From what reports we can gather and what our "Broker" friend can hear on the Radio-Waves? She's made a run for the outer Ord Clouds to reposition and plan her next move." She said.
"I wish she was here now...maybe she could have knocked some sense into Bryant and helped us." You said. "She was always good at keeping the two of us Grounded...and stable...I risked my neck bending over backward for every gram of used starship hulls to reforge them into Monarch's Shining defenders..."
"She hasn't abandoned us sir, you know that, the chaos forced her to run, and no one can blame her for living to give us a better chance to fight later." She said.
"Those are some of the most advanced warships MSI has ever built-." You said facepalming.
"Sir they are some of the first one's we've ever built." She said. "And they are to Directorate Standards for what little comfort its worth, and crewed by some of the brightest and bravest Monarch has to offer. She'll survive this...and she'll be back to help us."
Could you really trust those empty words? Its not like this secretary knew Mirai personally, and considering how much you had trusted Graham before his defection, could you really say you knew exactly what was going through Mirai's head and-
No, You couldn't abandon all your hopes and fall to paranoia. You had to at least leave the door open to her coming back. You couldn't just give up on everyone. You wouldn't jump to conclusions.... You wouldn't let recent events change you like that.
You tepidly responded, "We'll see what her exact rational was once she returns.... but for now, we must assume she won't be able to make it back through the blockade. Considering that fact, are any of our other countermeasures against the blockade working? Have the smugglers at least started making runs, or are we truly isolated?"
"Saltuna sells, and gives us a few chips...but not many." She said.
Blast it...not bad...not perfect either, smugglers were as always unreliable.
"But as soon as the blockade is fully realized its going to be harder have we heard anything of their admiral or Morgan himself." You said.
Arcturus Morgan. Now there was a dangerous man, UDL's prized attack dog and one that knew somewhat of what he was doing.
Thankfully, your new secretary had good news on that front, "Actually, it appears that they haven't appointed an admiral yet, and the command chain seeems to be having... issues, from what we can pick up and decipher from their comms. WE think the board wasn't ready to initiate a blockade, and when they jumped the gun, they caused all sorts of logistical problems for their own fleet. And now, since they don't have a clear command.... well, tensions are fraying as the ship captains have started forming cliques in order to secure the supplies they need. We don't think this situation will last indefinitely, but it certainly looks like the Board is being their own worst enemy for the moment."
"Any News on...the Directorate Front that will shed light upon that situation. I know of certain difficulties being raised with them, when I was at my first and last meeting in Byzantium." You noted.
She nodded before shuffling some report papers."Well, they've given general confinement to Barracks and the Frigate is in patrol pattern 2, as for the rest of the Fleet? God knows."
"But that's.... That's just a holding pattern, according to Mirai. A general purpose formation that's mediocre at everything, but allows you to easily transition to more specialized formations as needed. You are only supposed to use those sorts of formations for travel or patrols, when you have no information about the threat. It's only specialty is that it is a wartime combat formation for dealing with fog of war when you have little information about enemy force movements. Why in the world would they use that formation when we don't have a navy. The admiral could easily use any other formation. Can you pull up the information on the current commanding officer?" You were beginning to smirk at this.
Perhaps the situation was to your advantage after all.
Your secretary taps away in silence, with a confused face, "Sir, their previous commanding officer was sent back to terra 2, and apparently his temporary replacement was killed at the amber heights massacre.... Halcyon hasn't sent any replacements, and as far as officers who could be promoted into the position.... There are several officers, but it's unclear who should be promoted in this situation.... And moreover, none of them are as incompetent as you are describing."
You stayed in silence, processing the words before realizing, "Which means no one is in charge, and they are just bickering amongst each other. This would be perfect.... If we still had a navy on hand to attack them with."
Your secretary tried to respond with levity, "At least, all the possible officer candidates come from different factions and are backed by different executives, so you can rely on them bickering as long as any board members can.... Which I've heard is the one thing that can outlast the heat death of the universe"
You smirked at the old joke..."But we must be cautious, we have a lot to manage even with these small blessings."His secretary briefly looked at the clock before she shook her head at his response in disapproval, "You can have all the caution you want, but its not worth anything if you don't keep yourself healthy. I know you can invent all the work you want for yourself, but you already have plenty on your plate. Unless you plan to ignore your doctor's order's about limiting your stress and keeping a minimum rest and sleep time?"
You could only huff in response, "I'll try to slot it in, but considering that I have to balance the survival of all of Monarch-"
"Doctor's Orders!" his secretary interrupted.
You could only tepidly rise his hands in response, "Alright, alright, I won't go overboard with the caution-" "and paranoia" "... and paranoia, apparently. but I do need to get some work done."
Your secretary only spared a brief glance at the large stacks of paperwork, before responding, "Don't worry, you have plenty of work lined up. Sanjar, I'm here to help you, not nag you about doctor's orders. Let me help you, and not only will you be healthy, but you'll be in a much better spot to solve all these problems, instead of working against the Board and your own body. We have work ahead of us, but don't balloon it out of proportion."
For a second, your eyes glazed over, hearing the warnings of one of your dead friends about overworking yourself, instead of a secretary you had only recently met. You didn't want to remember that! You didn't need to remember that! You had work to do! You had a planet to save, you didn't need to wallow in his trauma and-!
"Sir, are you willing to try to keep your workload reasonable?" your secretary asked, as you were broken out of his silent stupor.
All you could do was give back a lie, "Of course, Mrs Robbins. I'll make sure to listen to the doctor's orders."
Your tried to give back a reassuring smile... but once again, the traumatic memories of the past plagued your mind, and all you could do was assure yourself that you would do the work to guarantee nothing similar ever happened again.
You have 10 Creation Points to build off your resources.
Note for actions that Say (Max of 1, they can be ignored so you may focus on other options.
Military: Monarch is a Terrifying, poorly terraformed deathworld by normal standards,Its Security of the inhabitants is a Priority to all who live here.
Fighter Fleet: MSI's Planned Independence from the Board was Years in the making it allowed them to prepare and optimize a small planetary defence fleet (Max: 1 choice):
[]To Protect the nest (-1 CP): While your fleet is gone, you were able to save some of your Planetary Fighter Wing. Not everything has been lost, and while the brave pilots that remain aren't enough to break the blockade on their own, they are willing to fight. (Start with a small amount of MSI's Planitary Defence Fighters and their pilots, and crews.)
[]Without Wings and Dreams (+1 CP): Your Planetary Fighter Wing, the last line of defense against this blockade is scattered to the four winds of Monarch, it will take a miracle to actually find and repair them to your standards. (You lost the Planetary Defence Fighters.and you have no idea who has them, they scattered to the Four winds.)
Available Manpower:
[]Corporate Military Folly (+3 CP): It appears that you have made the first of many follies, you put almost all of your military assets with your fleet, and tiny forces on the ground…well damn. (A majority of your actual security and military forces are with Mirai. You start with the bare minimum to hold the City and a little bit of the surrounding area and little else)
[]Directorate Veterans (-3 CP): The Earth Directorates Veterans have made Monarch their home, and will do much to keep it intact, even if they are not perticuallly happy with the arrangement of being branded outlaws with everyone else. (You have the veterans of the many Corporate Wars at your disposal, Every unit trained is one Rank Higher due to the veterans giving them actual basic training.)
[]A Place Outside the Board (-0 CP): There is a nearby Haven of Mercenaries…those who fight for coin and prestige...they exist and you and your enemies can use this. (Gain a Mercenary Haven to hire troops from, note the Mercenaries are unreliable and if not paid consistently they will abandon you…sometimes during the middle of a battle)
Graham's training: Graham Bryant May have betrayed MSI in a fit of religiously motivated madness, but damn was he a good planner of training. (Max: 1 choice):
[]Training never fails you (-1 CP): Graham may have betrayed you, but the training he gave the infantry and Security forces of MSI was reliable, and you now have the chance to use his own weapons against him. (Graham Bryant's Security Officer training has left you with a fine selection of Military officers that know what they are doing and can fight on Monarch effectively. Gain a Bonus to certain rolls and in Battle Gain a Bonus to your dice roll)
[]The Long Con (+1 CP): Graham was supposed to be head of military affairs and security on Monarch Proper. He was supposed to make sure Monarch had a functional defense force. Instead, he used it to cherry-pick the best and brightest officers, making sure they would follow him instead of you... or making sure any promising officers died before they could get a chance to serve Monarch... to serve anyone but him. (Bryant has gutted your officers corp leaving dead or broken men to lead them, while this problem can be fixed it will take time, time you may not have.)
Surface Naval Forces: When your planet is home to the largest supply of fish , you find a way to defend your fishing rights!
[]Experimental surface fleet (-2 CP): One of the boards cockamamie schemes was to use a surface fleet to wear down and destroy the dangerous wildlife from a safe distance. This plan ended up being too expensive, due to the expensive missiles the board decided to use for the project. Yet, Sanjar found out about this experimental fleet and revived it, refitting it with more sensible modern armaments. ( You start with a Military Surface Fleet to guard your fishing fleets, and opens many tactical and strategic options)
[]Cthulu is just a daily grind (+2 CP): Their are things in the deep dark of the ocean that are fundamentally incompatible with humanity.... Monarch fishermen have had to deal with such problems daily, and they have grown weirder stronger and more capable throughout the years. Not only can they fish more, and face down the old gods, but they know a thing or two about fighting, apparently, the problem is this is all makeshift and dangerous to our economy. (Your fishing ships have gun's and fight monsters, this is not professional or economically sustainable but its all you have at this point… )
Logistics and the Military-Industrial Complex, the Unspoken Truth, Logistics is the God of the Periphery.
[]Enduring Logistics (-3 CP): Sanjar has always focused on making sure everyone is prepared and knows what needs to be done for a job.... and it is this moment of crisis that that tendency for overpreparation pays off, as the common worker still knows how to do their job, and deal with any complications and problems that may arise from these necessary tasks. Many executives and technical experts lay dead... bu t your people know enough about how to handle the common tasks and problems that they can continue on without much delay or problem. (Logistical issues when deploying forces outside and on Monarch itself are very small, in terms economics your solid)
[]MSI's Special (-1 CP): While your Weapons building and development aren't entirely up to the standards of say UDL, you have a rather small but robust Military manufacturing sector, now these things were made to survive MONARCH, Not a War zone. (MSI's logistics are rated for Planetary use only, your going to need to encourage your logistical development, but its a start. Your equipment is stored efficiently.) *Can be taken more then once as it represents your stockpile of military Ordinance*
Directorate Supplies (-1 CP): If there is one thing that the Earth Directorates Military Industrial Complex can be thankful for its Bulk supplies, vehicles and equipment. There are the tools that broke Shadow and Destroyed Fonder 4. Hopefully, it still works. Can be taken more than once. (Start with Earth Directoarte Military Equipment, can give a Bonus to Battle Rolls and Bonus Dice)*Can be taken more then once as it represents your stockpile of military Ordinance*
No Logistics (+3 CP): The Bureaucrats that remain are no Logisticians of War; they have not clue or context on how to supply such a conflict, which bodes ill for you and all those who fight with you. (Your Logistics is infantile and needs development with your ability to deploy outside of Steller Bay being hobbled.)
Diplomatic: If there is one thing that being the ruler of a Planet comes with responsibility and legal state power.
Language: The Deep Periphery are filled with distinct cultures, languages and traditions born from the old earth, also Halcyon is winding down from a Refugee Crisis caused by the last Great Corperate War (Max: 1 choice)
[]United Language(-1 CP) : Your entire faction knows a single language that they can use to communicate to each other. More importantly, you all understand the various cultural differences within your faction. While your members may be a mixing pot of so many different heritages, your people are always able to understand each other, and work together for a better tomorrow. (Start with something of a Unified Linguistic Background and with it a sense of common community even if most of the colony is either from Earth, the Colonies or somewhere in the Deep Periphery)
[]Disparate Languages (+1 CP): The members of your party, city and colony come from all different backgrounds and cultural heritages. Unfortunately, a divide has begun to appear, as your people split into groups with similar cultural traditions. Accelerating this trend is the fact that there is no one single language that everyone in your faction can speak Quite often, your members are unable to communicate with each other, and you find that your party is slowly beginning to split apart. (Start with Communication Malus in your own faction, and while the Computers assist, not being able to communicate with eachother very well is its own detriment and leads to other issues. Bad Blood from Earth Speakers, Colonies and Deep Periphery colonists even bled into their dialect, it can be fixed, with much grumbling.)
Miscellaneous
[]Loyal In-fighting? (+1 CP): They claim to be fighting for a position by your side, or at least on your board. In reality, its a bunch of office politics, as people fall prey to the call to correct their own petty grievances, and to grab more power, despite the fact that the world seems to be ending. You've been so busy trying to fix the constant flow of problems that could lead to the destruction of human life on Monarch (much less MSI as a whole), that you've had little time to curb greed and pettiness of some of your remaining followers. At least, you didn't have time to curb it until it became a problem that threatened the entire planet/moon, because they were fighting instead of solving problems (Start with a handful of Office Politics between the MSI Bureaucrats and the Steller Bay City Council on how to organize the "Proto-Governemnt")
[]Reputable Dealer (-3 CP): While Sanjar admittedly doesn't have the most experience outside of corporate dealings, the few external negotiations that Sanjar has successfully negotiated have given him a reputation of being an honest corporate executive. Now that monarch has broken away from the board, most outside factions are willing to give him some extended amount of trust and leeway, although they may still be cautious of interacting with a corporate executive like him. (Small bonus to diplomacy with all factions except the Iconoclasts on Monarch.)
[]Dishonest Dealer (+3 CP): Sanjar will say it himself that he is not a People Person, that was Graham's Expertise, always being the people person as he filled out the paperwork and made sure the language was clear enough to get what he wants…unfortunately, in a world of trust being shown face to face Sanjar has shown that he needs room for improvement, a lot of of improvement. (Small Malus to all Diplomacy actions with all factions.)
Aid: Just because you are the first one to try to be FULLY Independent of the Board, does not mean you're doing it alone on Monarch (Max: 1 choice)
[]Dead words, and naught but ash to accompany them (+2 CP): Unfortunately, with the massacre at Amber Heights, Sanjar has lost much of the expertise he had gathered for his diplomatic core. Instead, he has some half-formed plans that even he knows would never have worked. Sanjar planned to rely on his friends and associates to guide Monarch to a brighter era of peace with his neighbors. Instead, Sanjar enters his darkest hour with few professionals capable of polite company, and fewer still capable of true negotiation... and yet, Sanjar always wished to unite everyone on the planet, not conquer them. ( Start with a limited ability to negotiate with the Planet's Denizens, the cry for aid and support unheeded, Debuff to Diplomacy Rolls for 2 Turns)
[]An Inspiration calls for aid (-2 CP): You've heard many times that you are an inspiration to others in Monarch. Yet, now, at your darkest hour, after most of your friends have perished at Amber heights, and you face impossible odds.... Now, those that call you an inspiration answer the call for help unheeded. You're hearing dozens of reports across monarch of groups organizing under their own initiative, and trying to resolve local problems, while also asking how they can help you and MSI in general weather the storm (Start with some degree of Aid to help you reestablish contact with the rest of the Planet,with a bonus to Diplomatic Actions, however, this has caught the attention of the Board's Blockade forces and they have sent forces to investigate, causing a Bonus to Disaster Rolls for 2 Turns, ???)
Popular Opinion: One does not Simpily make one's Company/Moon Independent without some help from the Little guy in some form. (Max: 1 choice)
[]Sacrifices Recognized (-3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed, personally, in order to save what people he can... And people, not just his people, but representatives of the downtrodden from all political stripes and backgrounds have seen this sacrifice, and recognize the charitable spirit behind Sanjar's actions. (decrease in starting AP, but start with a Bonus to those who share similarities to your Ideology or at least some of your policies and those who are at least somewhat more "Lawful", it makes it harder for the Board to sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws" )
[]Tough Decisions and Misunderstood Intentions (+3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed his ethics, and encouraged the black market to grow, and for smugglers to have easy access to the planet. While this action has ensured far fewer people ended up dying, his own people only see him dealing with smugglers and criminals and wonder just how much he is willing to enable those who prey on their misfortune. Worse still, leaders across the system see his associations with criminals (and not his achievement in greatly reducing the loss of life) and wonder how trustworthy the leading man of MSI can really be (increase in starting AP, with a Bonus to diplomacy rolls with Pirates and Smugglers, however the Board is having a field day turning the Press and with it a fair portion of the Colony against you as they sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws")
Union Support: MSI and Monarch has an odd and Courious Relationship with the Union's, while all Board Members are apart of the Halcyon Sercive and Support Union, an independent Monarch, needed an Independent Union…
[]The Union of Monach and its Union Man (-3 CP): Sanjar has always spent personal resources to help grow and develop the MSI union. Not only that, but he has truly listened to the union workers, and attempted to fight for their rights at great personal and economic costs at time. These fights have helped convinced even the most stubborn, radical socialists to at least hear him out. However, his willingness to speak out for the union has only led the board to believe the union is Sanjar's pet army in waiting, and they had curtailed much of the investment into the planetary security forces before Sanjar came into power. But with all the sacrifices made for their benefit time and time again in the years before the now rebranded MSI UNION of Steller Bay and Starbrook gladly considers Sanjar a "Union Man." (Bonus to diplomacy with socialist powers, and an Ally/Vassel: The Commune of Starbrook Quarry, however, start with less available Security Forces Manpower as you need to hold the City and the Commune.)
[]The Scab Union, and Infighting (+3 CP): It has always been a wonder to watch how a Unit so united and alike in dignity as the MSI Union can fall into infighting and strife, though given your situation with Graham Bryant and the Iconoclasts that sounds rather hollow and hypocritical. Though the MSI Union of Steller Bay continues to consider you an ally the one's in Starbrook Quarry are less then convinced, calling you a "Scab" and "Diet Socalist" that only care about power and even started a conspiracy that all of this was a plot cooked up by you and the Board to take power from the working man…forgetting the fact you didn't evacuate, risked your life to help save them and suffered the same orbital bombardments as them! Yet somehow they've found an audience of either madmen or the desperate who slipped through the net; who believe that their vaunted revolution will come and they will bring you, your policies, your company and your city to the Torch. The Union Boss tells you they were likely from the more radical parts of the Periphery, the Red Lion's neck of the woods. Typical, they like your policy, hate your execution of said policy…everyone's a fucking critic these days. (Start with a Negative Malus to Socialist Powers and an enemy in Starbrook Quarry, as if you need more enemies , but since you don't need to worry about it you've got more Security Forces)
Miscellaneous
[]Desperate Times (-1 CP): More and more you have relied on old vets and other experienced hands... who have always helped keep things in check, but haven't always followed the rules. Now, those same supporters are asking you to throw out the rulebook, and let MSI operate more freely than a normal corporation should. It goes against everything you believe in... and yet, if you do so, you know you will enjoy more support than ever. (Bonus to military, but event occurs where you have to deal with fallout of 'temporarily turning your back on your ideals)
[]Mighty Medics (-3 CP): Seeing the chaotic times ahead, one of the first deals Sanjar made was to get some medics to come to Monarch, and help build a proper healthcare infrastructure.... and this decision has continued to hurt your wallet ever since you made it. And all for a third rate healthcare system.... which is still connected planet-wide, and is ensuring far fewer people are lost in this chaos. Yes somehow one of your greatest achievements as things fall apart is the fact that a Corporate Run Planet that doesn't even have total control has one thing the Board can never claim to have fully implemented, a poorly run social healthcare department. (Medical emergencies across the planet are mitigated somewhat, troops heal faster. Doctors are overworked.)
[]Monarch's Medical Malpractice (+3 CP): Sanjar damn well knew Doctors were important, they healed the sick, tended the wounded and above all are expensive as hell. So we had to make due with third-rate doctors fresh out of Med School, and Mechanicals that if poorly programmed are liable to kill the patient (Thank god we signed those non-liability waivers). Now before anyone asks why this mess exists, MSI's predecessor and previous CEO was big into the idea of Automated healthcare and thought eventually we would only need a machine and an overseeing doctor. Now Sanjar is paying the price for that stupidity…as is the entire planet. Sanjar needs to find the hard liquor before the Complaints come in. (Monarch, lacks the dedicated medical infrastructure needed to provide aid to the Moon/Planet and the ones we do have are inexperienced and questionable, this can be fixed with time but its a problem that needs solving. Troops healed are at half effectiveness.)
Economic Preparations: One does not declare Independence, without a plan, or consequences.
Economy Shocks: Things do not go as planned
[]One Overlooked Economic Catastrophe (+5 CP): Ball Bearings. Sanjar had overlooked ball bearings. Busy finding replacements for experts lost at Amber heights, Figuring out a way to feed the planet despite the Halcyon blockade and Dealing with the recent Abandonment from Graham, Sanjar has had many different problems to resolve. Yet, he seemed to be performing admirably.... until all the factory machines started breaking down, due to a severe shortage of ball bearings of all things. The lack of these small metal balls has ground down the industry on Monarch to a halt, and you are left to scrambling to try and find a fix, so that factories on this moon may run yet again (start with a economic disaster that has to be resolved, and a negative economic debuff,and if mishandled will lead to a Famine.)
[]Out of position(+2 CP): Sanjar did have a plan.... And then the Amber heights massacre happened, the board intensified their blockade, and the wildlife collectively seemed to go mad with rage at the same time.... And Bryant went rogue.
But Sanjar did have a plan, even for something like this.... It was just that he expected more time to respond to all these threats. Now he has to haul what remaining experts and managers he does have from across Monarch to where they will be needed. In the meantime, the MSI will be left floundering, though, and there will be nothing he can do about it. (start with a negative economic debuff that will be resolved in 2 turns)
Renewed Purpose (-5 CP) : Sanjar underestimated them. He truly had not realized, even in his wildest dreams, what his fellow monarchites (Or whatever they are calling themselves now that Halcyonite is no longer wholly true) would be capable of. While many still grieve, or live in fear or are just plain paralyzed by everything that has happened recently, it appears a few MSI workers have recognized the truly dire situation MSI finds itself in now, and have responded appropriately.
While every instance of self-motivated action has been independent, it collectively has turned into something larger. Workers have turned up for extra hours, Managers have streamlined manufacturing lines, and in general, waste and inefficiencies have been minimized as all the workers murmur about the coming 'war of survival.' You didn't plan for this, but there is no way you won't take advantage of the industrious spirit of those below you who have turned this situation around. ( A Major Economic buff for 3 turns, can be lengthened depending on further actions)
Type of Economy: Organizing an Economy is as life skill
[]Wartime Economy (-1 CP): With Graham's betrayal, and the Board blockade, it clear that everyone in Monarch needs to make sacrifices. Its time to transition from an economy that was always a tool of a board, into one that is designed to fight the board. Its time to transition from the peaceful shops and billboards of the board, to the guns and ships that will fight it.
Its time to take control, and transition the factories from peacetime production to a military-industrial machine. It will hurt the economy, but it will provide you with the guns and other war goods you so desperately need. (Start with an economic debuff, but small bonus to all standard military troops)
[]A New Generation(+1 CP): Its easy to get wrapped up in the desperate struggle for survival right now. But taking a step back, Sanjar realizes there is also a desperate lack of expertise and leadership, with so many of the promising leaders and managers being cut down in the Amber Height Massacre. Now, with such a dearth of leadership, its time to start training the new generation... and time to let them make their own mistakes.
You can't just handhold them through this economic crisis, that will come with the blockade. Instead, you will need to let them try to solve the problems on their own, and let the urgency and difficulty of the situation train up a new generation of leaders quickly. You need a new set of management, and the fires and struggles of this war will be the perfect grounds to choose and train them up... but only if you allow them to work on their own, and make their own mistakes. (A chance of economic debuff's at the beginning of every turn, but increase in the quality of recruited characters)
[]The Unity of a Union (+1 CP): You have few options in this time of struggle and war. You need some help in order to make sure that Monarch doesn't immediately fall. You have cultivated a relationship with the union, and now that things are in this dire state, it is time to call in some favors. Hopefully, they will be able to help in small but important ways, relaxing certain rules, like working hours and safety regulations.
However, even this small sacrifice, in the name of efficiency and victory in war will cost you dearly. Many in the union already argue for worker ownership of MSI, and those voices will only be amplified with your request. Its quite likely that by the end of this war for survival, MSI will look nothing like you first imagined it would... and even worse, you might be trading an economic disaster for a political one, as you have to carefully thread union politics to ensure you get what you need without sacrificing everything (chance of economic buff's at the beginning of every turn, become involved in MSI Union/Syndicalist/Iconoclast events/storyline)
Intrigue: In A Corperate Dystopia like Halcyon, knowing the Back Room Schemes is essential.
[]The Eyes on Monarch (-1 CP): If one has one real advantage of being the legal owner of a planet, it is the fact all the In Orbit Navigational and GPS Data goes to you. That gives a solid and firm picture to the wider situation across the planet, and while it can only give you pictures, it gives information about many factions on the planet. (Start with Eyes on MOST factions, Monarch Rumor Mill unlocked)
[]An Eye in Byzantium Court(-2 CP): Many may not wish to actually admit it, and likely want to make such a post an irrelevance, but MSI (Or rather its previous iteration) had an office on Byzantium just like everyone else. It was primarily with the Terra-1 Office of the board, and despite difficulty with getting a signal these days, it appears that the Board keeps it around as an obscure bureaucratic cubbyhole to shove useless people into. But that means old allies exist and can be your eyes in the heart of the lion's den. (Start with a Byzantium Rumor Mill though a Roll will need to be made in order to get a signal)
[]Blockade Runners(-2 CP): If there is one thing that motivates the downtrodden and desperate tramp freighters that dot Halcyon its profit, and their own bottom line. It means a lot and you have some degree of communication and trade, for the right price of course (Have contacts within the Independent Tramp Freighters and smuggling actions, can expand into something far greater if cultivated.)
[]Knives from Byzantium(+2 CP): You knew that they would be swift in eliminating your allies, but you didn't think they'd dedicate a great deal of time to it, damn, now they are hunting your allies off world and have left you blind! (Byzantium has eliminated your allies in Terra 2 and are hunting your former allies in space.)
[]The Anaconda Effect(+2 CP): It appears that all form of Trade to and From Monarch is cut off, it will be years before the smugglers find weaknesses in the blockade, well I guess your stuck with overland trade then. (All Trade with the outside Monarch is cut off for Three turns, and you have limited options to trade with on Monarch proper.)
[]The Blind Monarch (+4 CP): You knew they would break things...but the Board were petty, now you can barely get updates from anything outside your own walls of Steller Bay. Hiram is going independent and by god, you can't even trust the mail anymore. (You only have eyes within your own settlement and ring of control, as far as you know, you don't even know what's going on with Monarch at all)
Education: A Long Neglected Halcyon Institution that changes now.
University: MSI made Considerable Investments into the Education and Research Sector before it all went to hell, what fruit has it born?
[]Pegasus University Remnant (-3 CP): The Remnant of the Pegasus University System has made a campus in Steller Bay after Sanjar's tireless campaigning. Sanjar has spent plenty of resources and political clout to ensure that Monarch and its residents would have access to an education that was fairly competitive (at least, in the periphery), and is far more than what the Board would normally provide, considering their reputation for cutting costs. Now, Monarch has a local university that has access to one of the largest research archives in the periphery of the Pegasus University System. While the campus demands an exorbitant amount of resources to conduct the research and maintain the educational standards that allow it to be a part of this inter-university system, Sanjar now has access to a far wider range of research topics, and can conduct that research more quickly than ever. He will just need to ensure that he can find a way to make sure it is all paid for (Increase in research options, decrease in research time, High per turn resource cost to keep Monarch university up to minimum standards)
[]Barebone Necessities (+3 CP): The Board never really invested in the local education system beyond the bare necessities, and Sanjar always had overlooked the institution. However, after the Amber Heights massacre, and Board's blockade, the remaining students and professors have offered their services to MSI, as long as Sanjar continues to fund the college. The college barely functions to provide Halcyon certification courses in its current state, but it does have the facilities for basic research, and more importantly, the computers and manpower necessary for extensive analysis. While the university is far from competitive, it does provide a valuable opportunity for Sanjar. It should be possible to use the extra manpower to help accelerate research, even if Sanjar will need to spend resources in order to ensure that the lights stay on. (Small decrease in research time, Low per turn resource cost for university)
[]'Apolitical' professors (+2 CP) : Sanjar had been depending on the fact that the scientists and researchers at the monarch field research campus would help support MSI after it's separation from the board. After all, he had helped establish this university, and had spent resources and energy to set up this university system, and had continuously ensured material and political support for the university. However, the professors there now demand a change to the deal, demanding freedom from the non-compete clauses, as well as more freedom to choose, or at least veto, research topics they are not interested in. It is rapidly becoming more and more clear that your only source of research is preparing to declare itself independent, and will be willing to sell any research they accomplish to all parties. They may even be selling certain research to other factions exclusively, charging higher prices to ensure you can't get your hands on certain advancements. You can't be sure why this is happening; whether or is over some lingering attachments and influence from Graham, or if it's the board, but it seems that one of your enemies has neutralized one of your greatest tools without you discovering anything (less research options available, all research has a moderate chance of immediately spreading to enemy or rival factions within range of monarch, research finishes much more quickly, exclusive research is possible but research cost is doubled)
Additional Research Centers
[]Barren Labs (+2 CP): Unfortunately, it appears that what few researchers there were on Monarch heeded the board's warning and left the planning.... while taking every slightly valuable tool or device not locked and bolted down to the earth. Now these labs are little better than empty warehouses, with regards to research, and you are left with the difficult task of starting a new R&D division without either personnel or equipment. (No R&D department first turn, and Sanjar will have to invest money and resources to create it)
[]Haunted Testing Site (-2 CP): There have always been rumors of an old UDL weapons testing site that tested numerous theoretical weapon designs, but that was abandoned shortly before Sanjar started working at the company and now was supposedly haunted. Hopefully, the facility is just inhabited by monsters, and as soon as you are able to clear the area, you will be able to use the facility for more efficient weapons research. If you are lucky, you might even find some designs or theoretical concepts to kickstart your weapons research. (Testing site available, will give bonus to weapons research, but will also give increased likelihood of negative random events happening each turn)
Completed Research (Max of 1)
[]A Better Ecosystem(-1 CP): Research has been conducted into the monarch ecosystem and how it works. Not only has this led to improvements in fishing and other resource gathering, but it has also lead to bonuses when handling the dangerous animal and fauna of Monarch. While the board has often considered this research focus to be a waste of money, it is now paying dividends for Sanjar, as the research has provided at least some temporary measures that he can use to tame the wildlife of Monarch. While the planet is still dangerous, this research has kindled the hope that Monarch can still be colonized properly, and turned into the paradise it was always promised to be. (Lower chance of negative events occurring during turns, increase food and resource production, can be sold on the Black Market for Favors and Resorces.)
[]A small step for Rocket Engines (-1 CP): The man who got you this information is dead... but the information he passed onto you is invaluable, especially since he kept it out of the hands of the board. It appears as if the directorate, unaware of the local situation, wanted to pass instructions for more quick and resource efficient rocket engine construction. However, this agent, upon realizing what an insurmountable advantage this might give the board, decided to give this information to you, at the cost of his own life.(Start with Efficient Starship Engines research completed, Actions available for building new fighters, gunships and later starships. Can be sold on the Black Market for Favors and resources)
Inherited Research Situation (Max of 1)
[]Profitability Policy (+1 CP): The board had a policy of pursuing research that strictly was supposed to contribute to the bottom line of the company, and many rules were created to focus research. Unfortunately, this lead to a culture of overlooking new possibilities and avenues of research, even those that might be profitable, but would require investment before such gains could become obvious. (Bonus to research speed, but a reduction in new research options, can be overcome with reform actions.)
[]Desperation and Deception (+1 CP): Sanjar was desperate to gain an advantage over the board, now that monarch was going to be independent. However, it appears that someone from the board was able to take advantage, leaking an entirely false theoretical weapons concept, which has wasted time, resources, and excitement. Now Sanjar must try to get the department back on track after the extremely successful sabotage operation by the board (extremely limited research options on turn 1, more successes necessary for turn 1 research options, can be overcome with reform actions)
And Finally!!
Interplanetary Fleet: There isn't much left in the Drydocks, or much of the old Drydocks at all, hopefully, something can be salvaged.
[]MSI Grant's Defiance (-8 CP) : The Earth Directorate in its Dying Days was known for its powerful symbols of might and power, and you are no different. The Grant's Defiance is MSI's proudest asset, a flagship-class multirole frigate, and while it is no true Directorate War vessel in truth (Like the great Carriers and Dreadnoughts of the Sixth War), it is at least built to their specifications and at the very least built competently. (You have laid claim to the Jewel of the MSI's Naval buildup, stuck in drydock and in need of repair and rearming to the highest degree. This is not a case of Schrodinger's Warship this is an Independently researched and designed Frigate made for frontline war and carrier duty overseen by an Earth Directorate Military Oversight committee, it is somewhere on Monarch, and if you don't secure it your gonna have to fight or negotiate for the biggest independent asset outside the Groundbreaker herself. )
AN: Now comes the Time to make MSI's Assets Choices.
Plan format.
Thank you @Anon500 for being the long-suffering Editor and assisting with these choices.
Enjoy and if you have questions Please do not hesitate to ask.
"I know the last century has brought great strife and heartache. I know that the directorate has failed to live up to its golden promise of the Earth Directorate. Even Now, there are those dangerous scoundrels who break our peace! who continue to make the Periphery a dangerous, lawless land.
It must end! Earth is the light of Civilization! It is the guide of all humanity! It must take up its role as guardian and protector for all our colonies!
This new wave of violence cannot stand!
That is why as my first act as president, is to commission the greatest expansion of our military forces in the history of the Directorate! I am going to double the number of fleets we field within the next 10 years! I am going to more than double the size of our expeditionary armies! We will have a new, modern navy, large enough to properly address any threat the Directorate could face. There will be no threat we cannot face!
Violence will no longer be the answer! Violence no longer be an option! Whether it be one planet, or half of our colonies, We will have a force that is ready! We will have a fleet that can defend all of the empire! And no one! NO ONE! Regardless of how self important they consider themselves, no one will disobey the Earth Directorate ever again! I promise you, We will secure a safe and prosperous future in this new century and we will end this ongoing violence. We will have a new GOLDEN CENTURY!"
- The Presidential Inauguration Speech, given in Earth Directorate Congress Main Auditorium by Zachary Fargus, Earth Directorate President, Jan 26th, 2289
"4 Years ago today, the President made a promise of a brighter future, filled with peace. Of a guarantee of Prosperity for Human Civilization. And Now I ask all of you, what is our reward for following such a soft-hearted fool. Tell me where you think Human civilizations will be in 10 years! Tell me what you think of our so called prosperity! Tell Me What you think of Our 'PEACE'!
Human Civilization will end if we do not act now. Already, the dregs of barbarism are attempting to isolate the majority of humanity from the light of civilization. They are keeping Worlds frome the Light of Civilization! FROM THE GUIDING HAND OF THE EARTH DIRECTORATE! THESE BARBARIANS MEAN TO DRAG US ALL INTO THE DEPTHS OF BARBARISM AND INHUMANITY!
We must destroy this petty rebellion at its core. We must tear it out at the root! EVERY! PLANET! MUST! BURN! Every world that dares support the end of civilization must be exterminated! GIVE THEM NO AIR TO BREATHE! GIVE THEM NOT EVEN AN UNBURNED INCH OF LAND TO LIVE ON! GIVE THEM NOT EVEN A DROP OF WATER TO QUENCH THEIR THIRST!
We have an enemy of civilization, and we must acknowledge that! No More Talk of Useless Mercy, while rebels hide away most human settled planets from civilization! No more Useless Traitors in our Fleet and Army, who use the 'rules of war' as a shield to hide their incompetence! LET! THEM! HANG! NO MORE HOLDING BACK!
THE Enemy comes and destroys our skip gates, The enemy comes and tries to destroy our fleet, and now the enemy will come and try to destroy civilization! AND WE MUST SAY NO! WE MUST BURN THEM TO THE GROUND! WE MUST ERADICATE BARBARISM WHEREVER WE MAY FIND IT!
20 YEARS AGO TODAY, PRESIDENT FARGUS LAID OUT PLANS TO SOLVE THIS DAMN PROBLEM! AND WE IGNORED HIM! AND WE PUT OFF HIS PLANS! BUT MAYBE ITS TIME TO START IMPLEMENTING HIS SOLUTIONS! OVERWHELMING FORCE AND UNSTOPPABLE DESTRUCTION! THAT IS ALL THESE BARBARIANS WILL EVER UNDERSTAND!
I CALL ON EVERY LEGISLATOR TODAY! PURGE YOUR WEAKNESS AND DO WHAT MUST BE DONE! EXTERMINATE OUR ENEMIES ONCE AND FOR ALL! FOR CIVILIZATION! FOR THE EARTH DIRECTORATE!"
- 'The Call against Inhumanity' Speech, given in Earth Directorate Congress Main Auditorium by Isaac Hamilton, Minority party leader, Jan 23rd, 2309
"Despite what many people used to believe, it would not be military force which would guarantee our most recent peace. It would not be a massive fleet, hovering above every rebellious world. It would not be posting of military police on every street corner. Instead, it would be the shared experience of the greatest war Humanity has ever experienced. It would be the mass death and destruction that was our last Corporate war that would finally convince all sides to sign a lasting peace deal, and prevent another war to end all wars from occurring again. It would be the knowledge that what we experienced for the last decade can never happen again.
- The Countdown to Peace, by Edwin Stone
432 days before the end of the the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
New Deal Coalition: Admiral Pan Seulgi
The New Deal Coalition fleet entered the Freyja system 2 days ago, and a portion of their civilian fleet had immediately burned towards the Mining planet of Gersemi.
The Leader of what remained of the New Deal Coalition Fleet, Admiral Pan Seulgi (once again) paced uncomfortably around the room. She knew that the New Deal Coalition fleet had lost this war. Oh, things had seemed to be looking up, as the Earth directorate had overstretched themselves massively. They had even been in the process of capturing the planet of Demeter. The ground battle was a slog that was taking months, but the farming world would've been a precious asset in continuing the war, and supporting them through another decade. A better commander would've won the battle more quickly
And then the Earth Directorate had finally unveiled their rumored 5th fleet, reformed from a truly overwhelming number of new generation warships that had just been finished being built. It was no longer the defanged vestiges left after the battle of Antioch, but the largest, and most advanced fleet the Directorate had ever produced, lead by a massive brand new Mega-Dreadnought. It was not the fleet that any rebel thought they would ever have to fight. It was not something the New Deal Coalition Fleet and it allies could face. You should've known they were coming!If you were smarter you would've seen the build up of ships!
Of course, they may have been able to have hold for a little while (long enough for a proper evacuation at least) if the promised reinforcements from the Socialist & Revolutionary Alliance (SRA) had arrived. You had requested reinforcements months ago, when it became clear that any significant Earth Directorate counterattack would come through Demeter. The SRA had even said yes..... but then no help had arrived[1]. You knew they were never going to come and help! Why do you keep using them as an excuse!
She had to abandon more than 20,000 goddamn people on the surface of Demeter. Of course she had tried to save some people, and had lost the last of her true warships in the rescue of hundreds of infantrymen. You may as well have killed them
THEY HAD BEEN WINNING! And now she had had to abandon her people, and run away with everyone else. and if you had been competent you would've found a way to win.
Now, her fleet sped toward another world filled with rebel troops. The planet Gersemi was the home planet of the Greater Communist Coalition[2], and their leader, the infamous Red Lion, Alparslan Batur, who had broken 5 Directorate fleets already[3].... back in the days when the Communist Coalition still had a fleet. There last ships had been destroyed 3 years ago in the tragedy of the Loki System[4]. An actual competent commander! unlike you, who has only really destroyed a single fleet
She wanted to save them all. To load every last man aboard her ships, and flee to fight in the next war. She didn't like the communists, but she knew that Batur had the best fighters of any of the remaining armies. If he had been in your position, he would've figured out a way. but instead you wasted everything, and now, no one can be saved!
But any significant evacuation would take weeks and, the 5th fleet was chasing them and would probably arrive within a few days. She didn't have time to save very many people. She knew what she was here to do. To offer transport for any remaining civilians and children, and then to hear the last words of the greatest general the rebellion ever had. and so he will die and incompetents like you will survive!
As her ships touched down, she steeled herself. she could see the doubtful faces on the communist soldiers, as they examined the burned and blacked damage on her ships. After stepping out, She was quickly guided to the command center on the planet.
Admiral Seulgi began her request, "You know why I am here. The New Deal Coalition has lost. The Coalition fleet has been lost, along with any other significant warship fleet we have. We broadcast the information about our defeat about a month ago. You know the 5th fleet is coming, and we don't really have the resources to stop it. We need to start accepting facts, and begin preparing for what happens after this war ends. As you know, the New deal Coalition has always offered to take care of refugees[5], especially children. We are constrained by the fact that the 5th fleet will be following us within a week, but we believe we should be able to pick up a large portion of your civilians. We can't immediately offer them separate ships, but we will ensure housing, and fair treatment, as well as an appropriate education for all your children, as long as you provide us with education materials. I know we aren't communists, and we certainly don't agree with you, but we won't sabotage your children's education."
Batur gave a cold look before responding, "So you are here to tell us that you have lost, again, and that you will be providing minimal aid with picking up refugees"
"We are doing all we can to-"
It was then that his second in command spoke up, "You'll just pick up all our civilians and not corrupt them at all. So Convenient! Such good PR! Tell me, when are you going to make a real sacrifice? Actually, put your all into a fight?"
Pan Seulgi seemed to recoil before responding, "Are you kidding me?! We have fought in every corporate war-"
The detractor interrupted quickly, "You always emphasize evacuations or refugees. When was the last time you used all your ships, you know, even your 'non-combat' ones, in a battle. I've seen more that one battle where an enemy ship or two being rammed would've won you the battle. The loss at Medusa? The massacre of Qaynān? The defense of Zeus?"
Was he talking about using civilian ships... no, refugee Ships?! Those people weren't hers to sacrifice!
The adjutant continued, "but its not even limited to just refusing to use every ship. You just don't use every asset, period. Every time you have the opportunity, but not the men, to strike a critical blow, you balk and blame your damn code! We have weapons for this shit!"
Was he talking about war crimes[7]?! Of course the New Deal coalition would never stoop to committing crimes against humanity!
The second in Command finally began to wrap up his diatribe, "Time and time again you refuse to sacrifice! When will you bloody fucking learn that people are more important than your fucking code! and that real, decisive victories are even more important than that! but you continue to refuse, because all this is for you is marketing! PR! You have nothing of fucking substance!
At this point, I wouldn't be bloody surprised if you caused the Fremont massacre[6]. It certainly fits the pattern of PR victories instead of substance!"
The room immediately tensed as every New Deal member reached for their weapons, with several members fully pulling out and aiming their pistols and rifles. Even Admiral Seulgi couldn't contain her rage, roaring back, "Are you kidding! We're the ones that caused Children to be Tear Gassed and Die? We are the Cause?! FOR TEACHING THEM PROPER EDUCATION! WE NEVER BLOODY WANTED KIDS TO DIE!"
"Of course you bloody did! You wanted to be the bloody martyrs of the movement, the ones who never did wrong, so you bloody taught children, and made sure they died so you-"
Immediately, there was a response, as the man was sent flying by the first of the red lion. Recovering from the strike from his commander, the man suddenly realized his fellow communist compatriots weren't giving him a very positive reception. Commander Batur rebuked the officer harshly, "I do have my doubts about the New Deal Coalition, Bernardo, but even I don't bloody suggest that they engineering the Freemont massacre for some clout. The corporations are the ones responsible for the tear gassing and killing of bloody children, Not US! NEVER US! DO NOT EVER FUCKING repeat That CORPO BULLSHIT IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN. We were never the cause for their most sickening deeds. Do not spout their bullshit as truth. That is just another way of defeat."
The tension in the room left, as many members of the New Deal Coalition finally put their weapons away.
The red lion got up from his chair, and approached the window, inspecting the stars before continuing the discussion.
"I am sorry about ... all of that" he paused, before continuing, "So, we still have to deal with that damn 5th fleet"
The entire room fills with frustration, as the red lion continues, "You know, this time was supposed to be different. This war has gone on for over a decade. I know we barely have anything left, but the same is true of the directorate and the Corporations. They've put everything they have into that fleet. The directorate has burned through their willing recruits. and so have we. Both sides aren't really supposed to have anything left to fight with except... well... that isn't true, is it. There are still idealists, still dreamers, still people willing to rebel in Directorate space. They just don't see a path to victory just yet... and yet, if we just inspired everyone with a victory or two, or some great achievement, you and I both know that hope would fuel thousands of more revolutionaries to rise up everywhere.... and then, it would be the end. bang! Earth Directorate's empire dead."
Pan Seulgi immediately responded, "You know there is nothing we can do. They're all afraid of their planets being nuked or wiped out, and the fleet-"
"You could've given them a bloody nose at Demeter! One victory. I did watch the battle vids, the LSS Willard was in perfect position to jet forward and ram their flagship, that damn mega-Dreadnought! If they had sunk-"
"The Willard was full of New Mecca Refugees! Are you seriously saying we need to sacrifice religious refugees who just saw everything they consider holy burned to the ground! For Fuck's sake, there were still children on Board!"
"A tragedy, but also a necessary sacrifice! They deserve a bloody fucking victory!"
"So we make sacrifices, because we serve them best by pursuing victory, instead of protecting them. Are you sure you are not excusing how you sacrificed the entirety of the Cathayan Commune last year, and all their forces and civilian members in order to win the battle of Arawelo[8]? You left them all to die on the planet of Kandake, even after you promised to aid them! They trusted you to at least help with the evacuation! And instead, their trust was repaid with nothing, as the corporations came and wiped out their entire planet!"
"And in exchange, we defeated the 7th and 8th fleets in separate battles. We would never have gotten this far if we weren't willing to make sacrifices! As strategist... No, as leaders, we have a duty to see the bigger picture and be willing to make sacrifices and-
"And that means sacrificing soldiers, not their spouses and children! Not the bloody civilian families who never signed up for the front lines!"
"Get out of here with that naive nonsense! This is a battle for our souls! There is no place that is not a front line!"
"And that excuses all your compromises!"
"YES!"
The silence stretched on for a few seconds. Everything seemed to stop, as both sides came to an impasse.
and then, Admiral Seulgi responded earnestly, "We are good people first. And then we see a world that does not make sense! A world without humanity! A WORLD THAT DOES NOT WANT HUMANITY! SO WE FIGHT!"
Alparslan immediately cut in, "AND THAT IS WHY WE MUST BE WILLING TO MAKE SACRIFICES! BECUASE THIS WORLD CANNOT CONTINUE! WE CAN'T JUST HAVE THIS INHUMANITY BE ALL OF CIVILIZATION!
Once again, silence dominated the room, before the red lion continued, "What good is your offer to take our civilians, our children, when the future you promise them is one of toothless revolution"
"We won't water down or corrupt-"
"But you'll never teach them the importance of Victory! Of doing whatever it takes! Of making the right Sacrifices"
"We will teach them what is necessary. Even, what is important to be a communist-"
"No, you won't. Not truly.
No, I don't trust you, or your new deal. I don't trust your toothlessness, and inability to see what's at stake. I have no faith in you, Admiral Pan Seulgi.
But I'll put my faith that what comes next will shed your current naivety. that even you louts will have to change once this all ends...
I put faith in WHAT I KNOW. AND WHAT I KNOW IS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE BEFORE ALL THIS ENDS! WHAT I KNOW IS THAT THIS WORLD WILL CRUSH YOU AND YOUR NAIVETY! THAT IS WHAT I HAVE FAITH IN! THAT THIS WORLD WILL TEACH YOU THE NECESSITY OF SACRIFICE, JUST AS IT HAS DONE FOR EVERYONE ELSE. FOR THIS WORLD IS TOO CRUEL FOR YOUR EMPTY PRINCIPLES
So come, do what you meant to. Come take our children to safer pastures, but hear me now, by the time this ends, you will be changed for the better"
No one breathes for a second before Admiral Seulgi steps forward, "We will do our duty. There is no good better than that!"
The red lion just snorted in response to the declaration of intent
1. The SRA's own fractious politics would late in the war would eventually lead to the SRA fleets being taken out separately, in the 3 battles, (The battles of Xolotl, Demeter, and Lugh)
2. The greater Communist Coalition (GCC) was the major communist coalition and revolutionary ally during the corporate wars. While this organization would be destroyed in its entirety a few times during the corporate wars, it was generally reformed fairly quickly. This organization would be responsible for some of the greatest victories and successes of the revolutionary forces during the corporate wars
3. For context, before this war, The Earth Directorate had 10 formal fleets, with 3 auxiliary fleets (which had a more eclectic collection of ships, rather than the standard formation)
4. 2312 counterattack had been the last large offensive by the Earth Directorate, before the relaunch of the 5th fleet.
5. The New Deal Coalition is famous for its prioritization of refugees, and willingness to take care of all their needs. This includes providing, to the best of their ability, doctrine appropriate education
6. The Fremont massacre was the use of chemical weapons (by corporate security forces) on (unsanctioned) New Deal Coalition schools. The events during and after this crisis would eventually lead to the mass protests and rebellions that would later be defined as the 1st Corporate War.
7. While war crimes does still encompass certain terrible weapons, like nukes and chemical warfare, it has also expanded to include certain interstellar acts, such as exploding planets, or suns, and exterminating the population within a system.
8. The battle of Arawelo was a small space skirmish before the battle of Orunmila and the battle of Khonvoum, that ended up being extremely important strategically. Because of the defense here, the 7th fleet was delayed long enough that it couldn't joining the 8th fleet before it was destroyed in the battle of Orinmula
The thing you need to understand about most moderate factions, is that they aim for that moment when they can say, "Everybody Lives! Everybody lives this time!". That is their goal. They fail to mention the second part. They fail to mention that the full statement is always "Everybody lives, but no one wins" and while they sometimes fail the first part, they always manage to make the second part true. So if you want to know why I will never rely on them, its because they have never really tried to end this conflict. They have never really done what is necessary to end all this suffering!
- Alparslan Batur
426 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Directorate Military: Admiral Cunningham, Commander of the Massive Directorate 5th Fleet
Admiral Cunningham eyed the system warily, "Any anomalies? gravity distortions, spectral fluctuations, Electromag-"
His Executive officer quickly responded, "Sir, the scouts ships already have mapped everything out. There is nothing here, just ground forces. Maybe he could hide a small ship or two in the asteroid belt, but there can't be anything significant left. Nothing in this system is a threat to our fleet. The red lion has no more tricks up his sleeve."
"Good, then have all forces proceed with the approach to the planet. No WMDS, no orbital strikes, just get infantry on the ground, and lets smoke out this cat. I want everyone to know that resistance against the Earth Directorate is futile"
"Sir, several captains are asking why we don't just skip this planet, or just use WMD's to negate the threat.... Surely we can use this opportunity to finally rid ourselves of-"
"NO! The galaxy is already tearing itself apart! We must not arm seditious minds with more reasons to rebel. If they believe that this undefeatable fleet, and that is the image we are selling, if they believe that this invincible fleet is scared of any man or force, then we are going to have 100 more planetary rebellions kick off, and we are simply stretched too thin as it is! No, we need to fight fair, and defeat the Red Lion. We need to show everyone that the only reason he ever was victorious was because of all his tricks. and then we snuff out each remaining planet, one by one. But I WILL. NOT. SHOW. WEAKNESS. HERE! None of us will show weakness here!
Get us to the Gersemi, and have the infantry get ready for the planetary assault. Its time to kill a lion."
67 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Skipspace:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Directorate Military: General Zou Li, commander of the Mercenary Legions
The Command task force assembled within the bowels of the EDS Salvation, as the mega-dreadnought traveled through skipspace.
The Earth Directorate Admiral, Ajit Bhat began, "As you all know, what remains of the 4th fleet is escorting the 7th and 8th deputized Mercenary Legions[1] in order to finally confront the remaining homeworlds of the Socialist & Revolutionary Alliance (SRA). This-"
Infantry High General, Zou Li, squirmed uncomfortably in his seat. He still hated sitting around and waiting in meetings. He was far more at home in field command, where he could see his men advance across the battlefield, or see them dig in and defend themselves at impromptu trenches and forts. but a meeting table felt like it was the antithesis of his wartime skills, and he found it himself supremely uncomfortable in his luxury business chair.
Corporate Liaison (And Representative of the Interstellar Chamber of Commerce), Darya Ilina, immediately interrupted, not letting the admiral finish, "And will the 5th fleet be joining us in this attack? Or will corporate forces be required to take all the losses without any of the gains?"
The Earth Directorate Military strategist, Sergeant Lafiza Khalil, answered her, "Mrs. Ilina, please trust us when we say that the 5th fleet will be joining us. However, we are having some trouble Communicating with them and coordinating our assault. We assume that the red lion has sprung some new type of trap on Gersemi, and has isolated the 5th fleet for the time being. While it may take some time to defeat the red lion and break out, they will be joining as soon as possible.
Moreover, you have to understand that we believe the 5th fleet has taken high casualties among its infantry after fighting the red lion. We must not rely on them to bail us out."
That was concerning. General Li had to respond, "I understand that the rebellion is on its last legs, but we only have 40 million men present in our infantry forces. That is everything we brought with this fleet, and I am not sure it is sufficient for an assault on the remaining SRA holdings, 7 highly industrialized worlds, which have had a decade to entrench themselves and prepare for our assault. Furthermore, I know that the Earth Directorate does have available military forces which dwarf what we have here. Why the hell aren't they here."
The Military Strategist, Sergeant Khalil sighed, before responding to the ground general, "First, I believe according to Taube-Akdari[2] accords, all corporate mercenary outfits are to be prioritized for military engagements when possible, rather than garrison and escort duties. I also believe that very same law gives corporate mercenaries extremely beneficial battlefield salvage rights, which you will also enjoy on this military expedition."
Mrs. Ilina replied immediately, "Of course. we will have first choice of the factories, facilities and machinery which we wish to recover. Obviously, the general understands how important it is for all the participating corporations to recover manufacturing and industrial facilities, considering the damage they have received during the war"
General Li just gritted his teeth, as he considered the insane losses his men would have to take for an outdated scavenging law. Seriously, the Taube-Akdari accords were made nearly a century ago, back when the Earth directorate unfairly prevented corporations from accessing their rightly collected battlefield scavenge, or traded such rights for proper battlefield pay. It wasn't meant to coerce corporate forces into being sacrificed instead of earth directorate ones. That was not the spirit of that law!
Sergeant Khalil, however, continued with her response, "As the general mentioned, the Earth directorate does have several times more infantry. However, there are two separate problems. First, we must consider just how much other territory is in a precarious situation, ready to rebel at any given moment. On every planet still part of the main gate network, we have tried to garrison with an appropriate amount of men, whether they come from the normal army, the reserves, or the emergency draftees[3] we have recently started recruiting. Which leads to our second problem, which is the crippling of our transportation network. 80% of our gate network is effectively out of reach of the Directorate, and we currently only have 400 functioning long range Freighters in our freighter fleet. Quite honestly, our best estimates only have us reconnecting 50% of Earth Directorate planets to the skip gate network within 3 years, and it will probably take 10 years to return to the previous functionality we had for the gate network. That is 10 years where we are just replacing what we have lost, to regain our former coverage. The fact is that we just don't have the transportation capability to reach most of our armies. The reason we are using your army isn't because you are corporate. Its because you were the closest army in the area that we could use to assault the SRA homeworlds, alongside the 5th fleet.
General Li thoughtlessly replied, "And now the 5th fleet is missing, so you are expecting us to do it on our own."
The room fell to silence, before Admiral Bhat intervened, "While I have full confidence in the 5th fleet, it is a fact that the red lion has delayed it, and that we would need to start the assault ourselves. Therefore, I believe it best if we got all concerns out of the way now. You have had a few days to look over the known fortification details of the SRA homeworlds. Could you go through your analysis of how difficult any ground assault would be?
General Li just sighed, before taking out a handful of folders, filled with detailed reports crowded with sloppy notes in the margins.
"If you want my prognosis, its going to be a slog, but a necessary one. We all know these socialist scum are a blight upon the world, and we'll need to eradicate them.
I've given a detailed description in the report in front of you. Please, at least take a moment to read the top page, and the single page summary I've given with a summary and its defensive capabilities. Ultimately, the basic fact is that at least 5 out of these 7 planets will be extremely difficult to take and keep with the ground forces we have. I cannot, in good conscience, suggest that a direct assault will be cost-effective, especially for every single SRA planet."
Anubis (& Set):
economic analysis:
Anubis is an extremely valuable heavy metal mining world, with several on site production facilities. Even if all machinery is damaged, the Interstellar Chamber of Commerce estimates that the planet will have a GDP of at least $100 trillion within a year. Heavy emphasis is given on capturing the planet with as little damage as possible.
Defensive features:
The massive supermoon Set induces massive tidal shifts, that result in 97% of the surface landmass being flooded at one time or another. These tidal shifts have forced all human inhabitants to live underground, in extensive subterranean complexes. These underground bunkers are a natural barrier to assault, with their entrances only being accessible for a short period during each lunar cycle. Furthermore, the planet has unveiled secret orbital super-artillery, which should give extensive coverage for each consistently dry landing zone on the planet (these guns were first used against a failed assault in 2307 by General Palmiotto)
Operation Predictions:
Overall, infantry will suffer extremely heavy casualties both in attempting to get to the surface of the planet, as well as when breaching the underground living spaces. There is also extreme risk of any forces being overwhelmed after they are cut off from reinforcements (when entrance is inevitably flooded again)
Cerberus:
economic analysis:
Former Headquarters of Chronos inc., and probably includes several trillions dollars worth of Patent designs alone. In addition, the planet has the highest industrial capacity of any remaining SRA worlds, and all economic analysts agree that the industrial plants here are necessary to make the entire sector economically profitable within 2 months time (amount of time necessary to reorganize shipping schedules).
Defensive Features:
This planet has been repeatedly reinforced against ground and orbital assaults, due to the numerous revolts and attacks by rebel forces. After this planet was finally captured at the very beginning of this war (around a decade ago), it was further fortified. We have little solid information about the actual layout and destructive potential of the current defenses. However, every single bit of circumstantial evidence points to the fact that they have probably built up one of the strongest defensive fortifications on any single planet in the galaxy.
Operation Predictions:
Frankly, we just don't know enough to accurately model what parts of the operation will likely see the most damage. Our best estimate is that we will suffer heavy losses while trying to land on the planet, and then severe losses as we try to secure ground targets.
Anansi:
economic analysis:
Anansi is the most populous world by far, and its industrial capacity outstrips every planet in the nearby sectors. While there production is nothing rare or specialized, the scale of production possible on this planet (with a population of 4 billion) means that it will be vital in the reconstruction process in this area of space.
Defensive Features:
The jungle environment isn't strictly an impossible defensive feature to overcome, and with time can be neutralized fairly easily. Furthermore, we do not predict any overwhelming or extremely difficult defensive fortresses. However, the amount of possible soldiers (the planet has a population of 2 billion people at enrollment age), means that we could easily suffer extreme losses if this becomes a war of attrition
Operation Predictions:
We will need far more analysis for an accurate prediction of how this operation will go. Unfortunately, all that we can tell now is that we will probably suffer extreme losses at some point. Either, we will suffer extreme losses in the ground assault, as we capture all the industrial centers on the planet, or we will suffer heavy losses from a guerrilla warfare, as we try to govern an exxtremely large, extremely hostile populace
Perdition:
economic analysis:
The massive amount of industrial production makes it imperative for this planet to be captured. The specialized and concentrated industry on this planet mean that it has a huge potential for extreme profit margins for the next few years, at least.
Defensive Features:
The defensive features of this planet all center around the fact that this planet used to be a prison world until 2290. Unfortunately, none of the former prison facilities have been torn down, and instead, they have been expanded for industrial production. This means there is a high potential for the prison defenses and measures against prison breaks could be used against any ground assault, especially against any infantry operation. We are unsure how many of these former prison defenses remain, and how many of those will be repurposed against us in an invasion. However, I do not like the idea
Operation Predictions:
Any ground assault will be bloody and suffer severe losses. Worse, we already have soldiers spreading rumors about the supposed defenses on the planet. Everyone knows that prison planets have all manner of things to make each moment hell, and no one wants to go through that. While there are plenty of outright untrue rumors that we can debunk, soldiers are already reacting adversely to actual defensive measures. Closing off city sectors and gassing all inside? Electrocuting everyone inside a building? Those measures only require slight modifications to what was present when this world was a prison planet, and I don't like the fact that my soldiers are already acting scared before even landing on the planet. It is possible that if we are not successful enough, we might suffer mutinies within some of the companies.
Chrysalis:
economic analysis:
While this planet has extensive mining facilities, and a modest amount of industrial production, the economic potential of this planet is limited. Furthermore, its industrial output is far too similar to the industrial output of nearby planets and systems, and as such, its output is fairly easy to replace. The Interstellar Chamber of Commerce estimates there should only be a moderate impact to any loss in industrial production
Defensive Features:
There are two main features which will make conquering and keeping this planet difficult. First, due to the many mining operations, there are several underground complexes and bunkers that have probably been fortified and hidden. Secondly, the surface of Chrysalis is covered in several steep mountains and hills, with few terraforming efforts being done to make the land more navigable. This means it is much easier to hide guerrilla and irregular forces in the nearby countryside, and it will be much harder to hunt down any revolutionaries in this environment.
Operation Predictions:
We believe that our infantry will suffer severe losses when attempting to assault the underground bunkers. In addition, we estimate several difficulties in garrisoning the planet, due to the favorable geological features for guerrilla warfare. Any plan for continued occupation will probably require a heavy garrison and an expectation of continued guerrilla warfare.
Kurdalægon:
economic analysis:
The extensive naval production capability of the super-massive Wærgon orbital facility (with multiple orbital drydocks and ports built into it) will noticeably boost naval ship production in the near future. It is imperative to take these facilities undamaged, in order to ensure that near future naval production targets can be hit.
Defensive Features:
Ultimately, this planet has very few permanent facilities on the surface, with almost all of the population and industry being located in orbital facilities. While these orbital facilities will still have defensive weaponry, we expect nothing they have will really be a match for the 4th fleet.
Operation Predictions:
Ultimately the orbital stations are just too exposed for the population to mount a strong defense. As long as we keep the 4th fleet in good order, we should only suffer light losses in taking over this orbital facilities. Similarly, garrisoning this station should be fairly easy and we probably shouldn't have to worry about any revolutionary violence here.
Eve:
economic analysis:
While all industry and production on this planet is primarily specialized in less profitable food and drink products, we estimate that in the immediate post-war period, these products will be in great demand, and will have the greatest profit margin of any product being produced by a former SRA world
Defensive Features:
Fortunately, this planet is largely flat and unfortified. While defenses may have been erected, analysis of the geological features on the planet suggests extreme difficulty in erecting very strong defenses. Moreover, the lack of history of rebellions suggests that the planet could be pacified easily.
Operation Predictions:
This planet should be easy to conquer and garrison. We estimate extremely light casualties in almost all operations, with possible light-medium casualties when assaulting the capital city
In fact, I recommend immediately authorizing the use of WMD's. We cannot win this war without them. We can use Gauss nuclear ordinance to open up the underground bunkers in Anubis, as well as the impossible fortresses of Cerberus. Those weapons can crack the secure facilities they have there. In addition, we can use the militarized bioweapons that the 4th fleet carries on the worlds of Anansi and Chrysalis, in order to reduce the defenders without having to risk our troops. Finally, we can just use normal orbital bombardment on Perdition to scour the surface of the planet. While the prison planet was built to deal with people, and even vehicles, it is extremely vulnerable to orbital strikes."
The room immediately went silent, as every member looked aghast at general Li.
Sergeant Khalil was the first to stutter, "Surely, you aren't considering using WMD's without even seeing the planets? Without getting more up to date and accurate information? I mean, half your report is based on hearsay and rumors. Surely we don't need to commit to such drastic measures just yet?"
The general let a sly smirk grace his face before responding, "Actually, I am insisting on this. According to my authority as the highest Ranking Corporate general, I am activating article 3 of the Rodriguez protocols[4], which not only allows for me to demand the use of WMD's, but also-"
The Corporate Liaison, Darya Ilina cut in first, exclaiming, "You can't seriously be suggesting the destruction of 5 of the 7 remaining planets. Do you understand just how many trillions of dollars of industrial production and salvage you are destroying? Are you even following the Suzuki protocols[5] for the conservation of battlefield salvage and industrial production!"
The general quickly responded to the shrill remarks, "Please don't patronize me. We both know the Rodriguez protocols take precedence in all scenarios. After all, they were just passed 4 years ago for this very purpose."
While the Mrs. Ilina silently steamed and plotted, Sergeant Khalil simply noted, "You understand that the Rodriguez protocol is only supposed to be enacted when we have examined all other methods intensely, and have determined that there is no possibility of victory without WMD's correct?"
General Li narrowed his eyes, looking at the strategist and the admiral, who had both regained their cool, and seemed like they were finally prepared to follow his suggestion.
Instead, Admiral Bhat upended his plans, Motioning in a suited woman while responding, "I believe Sergeant Khalil has a valid point. While you have provided a good summary of why any assault would be difficult, we do not necessarily need to engage in any fighting at all.
You see, right before we entered skipspace, we picked up Senator Kanika Aguda who has been given the authority, by presidential decree, to negotiate a peace treaty with the Socialist & Revolutionary Alliance. I believe diplomacy is an entirely valid avenue for success that you have not analyzed properly, General Li and therefore, I cannot help but determine that the Rodriguez Protocol would not apply in this situation."
General Li's temper flared, as he realized what was happening. He couldn't believe they were trying to get everything to stop by reducing the punishment to a slap on the wrist. At least it would never work. They really believed they could solve this with Bloody Talking! THIS WAS A FUCKING WAR!
1. The Earth Directorate had a habit of deputizing Mercenary companies, and combining them into 'mercenary legions' during extreme periods of strife. While not initially a common occurrence, the use of deputized legions has become more and more frequent after each corporate war.
2. Taube-Akdari accords were passed in 2212 and ....
3. While the Earth Directorate has the capability to call up drafts, its ability to employ most of its population as soldiers is severaly curtailed by the fact that most corporations have broad draft exemptions for all their employees
4. Rodriguez Protocols were passed in 2311 and gave extensive leeway for corporate generals to take 'all measures necessary' in war. While largely ineffectual in actual combat effectiveness, it marked an increased willingness to commit war crimes on both sides of the conflict
5. Suzuki protocols are the old standard by which mercenary contracts were governed. These rules helped prevent 'needless exploitation' of mercenary companies and corporations. It ensured that mercenary companies would be afforded a 'fair chance' to retrieve battlefield salvage, as well as guaranteeing that corporations wouldn't be left holding the bill to repair 'needlessly' damaged and destroyed facilities.
47 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Surface of Anubis:
Perdition Peace Conference
Syndicalist Revolutionaries: Faraji Balewa, Planetary Representative of Anubis
Faraji Balewa, The Technocrat Republican Representative of Anubis, could already tell where his friend, Wu Huiliang, the Syndicalist Democrat Representative, was sitting. Despite this being the largest and most popular bar on Anubis, it was obvious that his friend was sitting in the corner, having put together 3 tables, and then having covered with surface with papers, plans and reports of all sorts. As he got closer, he could even tell that his friend had already gone through 6 beers, despite it still being the afternoon.
"Wu, this isn't a bloody office! You can't bring your bloody paperwork in here! Now what the hell are you working on?"
"Ah Faraji! You finally showed up! You decided to work today?"
"Fuck you, I come in and work everyday. You're the one that wastes times with hangover's and second rate beers.
Now what the hell are you doing here? Everyone is still bloody panicking, and you are nowhere to be seen! They need a reassuring voice. and we need to be making plans for the evacuation before the 5th fleet gets here!"
"...Faraji, you can't seriously think we can evacuate, and all our problems will be solved? That being cowards is the best choice here?"
"Listen, don't talk to me about cowardice! I am going to that same trap of a peace conference they are offering on Perdition as you are. We both know they won't actually offer us anything, They never have offered a real peace in any previous war! But I am damn well going on the off chance we can get something. We have a duty to do all we can!"
"Faraji.... It isn't a trap. The Earth Directorate really is desperate for a peace deal. I've been working my ass off these past few days to figure out just what we could get away when negotiating on Perdition and-"
"WHAT?!"
Faraji couldn't believe his friend, not really. While the SRA had had its victories, and had eliminated or most of the fleets in a position to endanger it, leaving only the 4th fleet
"What exactly do you mean that the peace deal isn't a trap? Need I remind you that the 5th fleet is on its way here? The fleet probably built entirely of new generation ships, and its supposed to be the size of the entire Earth Directorate Fleet before this war! There is no way we will bloody survive that, and there is no way that the Directorate will start pleading for peace in such a situation either."
"Faraji! Faraji... Listen to me. Calm down. I've got some logic behind all of this, trust me.
First, you need to understand that while this fleet is supposed to be all 4th gen warships, and part of the Fargus fleet expansions, its been something in the works for about 25 years now. And they've barely made more than a couple ships before this war. Now if you looked closely at those intelligence reports, you would've notice they have nowhere near the number of ships they claim. I'd put their real numbers at about a 1/3 of the total ship numbers before the war, maybe about 1000 ships. I wouldn't be surprised if it was more like an 1/8 or less than that though.
Now, the important part to note is that this program was in production hell. I know you remember all the horror stories about the production of these ships, and just how they weren't able to accomplish a damn thing. And now, they just happen to finish building a bunch of them, just in time to end this war? I would bet money they took some shortcuts, and I would bet money that they were absolutely desperate. After all, they've only got the 4th fleet left to threaten us with, and even that barely has any warships. They are desperate."
"Wu, that still is too many ships for us. I know you heard about the Loss at Demeter. They were desperate. They rushed a fleet. and then they beat us to Demeter and destroyed our fleet. Hell, they probably have already beaten us at Gersemi, and now we don't even have the Red Lion! Now it doesn't matter how rushed those ships were, We are still screwed, because we have nothing to fight back with. "
"Faraji. calm down.
This gets to my other point. The Earth Directorate economically can't afford a war. You remember our first strike. We crippled them. We targeted the gate system[1], and over 75% of planets had no way of contacting earth within a period of 6 months. We had sabotaged or outright destroyed over 20% of the gate system. That isn't even getting into the fact that we also have eliminated most of their long range freighters[2] by this point, and I think there are only 2000 of those ships left in Directorate control. And even then, 1500 are with either the 5th fleet or the 4th fleet, so that's only 500 left for everything else. And trust me, they are using those ships for trade, not for exploration and communication. For the majority of worlds, the Directorate can't even communicate with them, by gate or ship.
And the Directorate has, instead of reconnecting, wasted ships and manpower on a rebellion. On us.
At the end of the day, The directorate has lost their empire, lost their golden eggs. Are there colonies still loyal, or are they rebelling, or are they dead? No one knows, because its been a decade of quiet. And while no one talks about it, you can bet your ass the Directorate is worried about it! Sure, they had enough militia and troops in those regions before our attack to probably maintain a loyalist government on those worlds, even without wider interstellar support, but nobody is sure of that. Nobody knows the fight is really over. Nobody knows just how many systems may have fallen to rebellion. They just have to hope and pray that they can go and start rebuilding skip gates again, and that everything will go back to normal immediately. That their empire was just quietly waiting for them all along.
but if not? If not, then they will need their fleet, and more importantly, they will need their armies. They do not have the time nor the men to waste on a conquest over us. They only have, what, 200 million soldiers they are sending at us in the 4th and 5th fleets? That's all they can afford to send out. Now, are those men better spent garrisoning our worlds, or is it better to keep them in reserve for any unseen situations they encounter as they reestablish contact?
You tell me they hold every advantage... and they do, but they can't afford to fight us. They are feeling the pressure. So that Peace conference on Perdition is not a trap. They are coming to us, and they absolutely will want to leave with a peace treaty."
"So is that the speech you will be giving the rest of the us to calm us down?"
"Don't act like you are unaffected. Or like I'm wrong! We have a real chance to write an advantageous peace treaty, and I've been doing productive work on that and what peace terms would be best to argue for. I'm not like you bozos who have spent days panicking"
Faraji could see it in Rep. Huiliang's eyes. He really did believe that he had a winning formula. He was once again believing his own exaggerations. And Faraji knew that he would be able to convince everyone else to go with it. Wu had always been charismatic like that.
And yet, Faraji knew that as optimistic as Huiliang was being that this couldn't be true. He could see that the outlines of the logic were true, that the Earth Directorate probably did want peace. And yet he knew from experience that they would never beg for it. They would never abide with what Faraji was attempting. The 5th fleet, with all its might, was headed towards the SRA, and they brought with them the certainty of defeat. Faraji knew this peace summit would be their only chance to grab a somewhat acceptable peace, and he hoped We would see reason and not formulate some insane and insulting peace proposal. And yet, he knew that he alone was not enough to convince Wu of this fact.
"Wu, if you've got this brilliant idea, perhaps instead of hiding away in the bar to do work, you could come into the parliament building and actually explain the 'real situation'. If you've actually got something, won't you be able to convince everyone else"
"Sure sure, Give me 10 minutes to get another drink in me, and you'll see me in that madhouse"
Faraji could only sigh. At least Wu wasn't panicking. Worse, he had crazy ideas, and unlikely conspiracies running through his head. Faraji could only hope that in the process of trying to work out a peace treaty proposal, he and the others would start seeing the holes in his logic.
None of them could afford to play this dangerous game. Faraji could only hope things would change before the peace summit.
1. The Blackout offensive was a Targeted and coordinated attack by Revolutionaries in 2306. It targeted the gate network in such a way that key junctions of the network, and split the entire gate network into much smaller separated sub-networks. Around 15 systems (with a massively disproportionate number of skip gates) would be successfully targeted and have all their local skip gates sabotaged or destroyed. It would take the Earth Directorate 20 years to restore the gate network to its pre-war state by repairing, or more often, replacing damaged skip gates. Other facilities were targeted in this attack, including military and civilian shipyards, Mining and Other Resource Extraction Facilities, and Military Industrial Production Centers, with varying degrees of success
2. Long range freighters are freighters capable of skip travel on their own, without the use of a gate system. While having a significantly worse capacity than normal freighter ships, this ships do not need to use a gate network, and a frequently used for trade in distant rim systems which don't have their own skip gates. While skip gates are universally faster that ship skip drives, they are also extremely expensive, and have only been affordable with the massive subsidies provided by the Earth Directorate Government
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Turn 1: Even with All the Preparation in the World...
Turn 1: Even with All the Preparation in the World...
Sanjar looked at the Asset list, "This is going to stretch our logistics capability!"
The Groan could be heard unconsciously.
Now comes the Organizing and charting, and other things he has to deal with.
[X]To Protect the nest (-1 CP): While your fleet is gone, you were able to save some of your Planetary Fighter Wing. Not everything has been lost, and while the brave pilots that remain aren't enough to break the blockade on their own, they are willing to fight. (Start with a small amount of MSI's Planetary Defence Fighters and their pilots, and crews.) [X]Training never fails you (-1 CP): Graham may have betrayed you, but the training he gave the infantry and Security forces of MSI was reliable, and you now have the chance to use his own weapons against him. (Graham Bryant's Security Officer training has left you with a fine selection of Military officers that know what they are doing and can fight on Monarch effectively. Gain a Bonus to certain rolls and in Battle Gain a Bonus to your dice roll) [X]Experimental surface fleet (-2 CP): One of the boards cockamamie schemes was to use a surface fleet to wear down and destroy the dangerous wildlife from a safe distance. This plan ended up being too expensive, due to the expensive missiles the board decided to use for the project. Yet, Sanjar found out about this experimental fleet and revived it, refitting it with more sensible modern armaments. ( You start with a Military Surface Fleet to guard your fishing fleets, and opens many tactical and strategic options)
[X]MSI's Special (-1 CP): While your Weapons building and development aren't entirely up to the standards of say UDL, you have a rather small but robust Military manufacturing sector, now these things were made to survive MONARCH, Not a War zone. (MSI's logistics are rated for Planetary use only, your going to need to encourage your logistical development, but its a start. Your equipment is stored efficiently.) *Can be taken more then once as it represents your stockpile of military Ordinance*
[X]Directorate Veterans (-3 CP): The Earth Directorates Veterans have made Monarch their home, and will do much to keep it intact, even if they are not particularly happy with the arrangement of being branded outlaws with everyone else. (You have the veterans of the many Corporate Wars at your disposal, Every unit trained is one Rank Higher due to the veterans giving them actual basic training.)
X28 F-99 Planetary Assault Fighters Code Name "Razorhawk": The Tried and True Earth Planetary Defense Fighter, this fighter was licensed across the periphery for its ease of maintenance and combat versatility despite its design being 55 years old.
x 470 ground Crew Engineers and organizers.
x46 Pilots
Reward: Gain MSI Unit Defense Wing Alpha: A Specialized Planetary Defense Unit designed for air and short-range Exo-Planetary Incursions gives a Dice Bonus to all combat forces on Monarch when Deployed. ---------------------
Good News was a rare and fleeting commodity, the fact it came to you in the form of that missing surface fleet you thought had abandoned you was just a bonus.
"Ms. Robbins, why is my missing fleet back in the bay? and why does it seem like they came back with the majority of the MSI guards that deserted when Graham left? And why is it that half the soldiers and sailors are passed out drunk, while the other half are moping like someone killed their dog?" Sanjar asked, extremely confused by what a weird farce his morning was turning into.
"Ummm.. Sir, from what I can understand, they didn't exactly desert..." his secretary tried to explain.
"What do you mean they didn't desert? They were supposed to be here, and they weren't. They were Graham's best men in Stellar Bay, and I certainly didn't expect to keep their loyalty." Sanjar retorted angrily.
His secretary tried to calm him, explaining, "Well, ummm.... Sir, apparently they took Graham's betrayal much worse than you did. They spent the last 2 weeks trying to hunt down his iconoclasts to no avail"
"Yeah, they also left without saying anything! And what about the sailors? I've never treated them badly. What possible reason could they have had for scampering off without a word?" Sanjar asked, redirecting his anger.
"Ummm... Yes, their statement is that they were bored and wanted to see some action", his secretary answered, somewhat incredulously.
"... Fuck it, They're all on toilet cleaning duty. Or something. I can't deal with shit like this in the morning" Sanjar resignedly complained.
"Sir what about the Fleet needing to come into port?" She said.
"Get them in and yell at them for being late and not reporting in, then tell them to start getting into shape, we're in for the long haul and I don't want any more major surprises.
"And what about all the damages from their drinking run last night?" she hesitantly continued her questioning.
Sanjar could only massage his forehead in frustration, "Pay the fees, and take the money out of the offending soldier's and sailor's paychecks for the next year... Goddammit, I didn't need this headache first thing in the morning. I am going to try and get some work done, Ms. Robbins, this time without interruptions or distractions. Please don't disturb me unless its an emergency. I want to deal with things that make sense for the next few hours."
Sanjar's secretary took one look at his face, before giving a nod of assent and fleeing his office to fulfil his orders
"Oh and tell the Union Head and The Security Chief that they are welcome to drinking tonight...and discussion. We have way too much to talk about." Sanjar yelled after his retreating secretary.
Reward: Gain 1 MSI Planetary Surface Fleet: This unit can only be deployed on Costal ranges, and can be used for deploying air support or bombardment, gives dice bonuses when deployed.
Gain MSI Officer Training: Graham Bryant's Personal Training and Officer Development School, requires critical thinking and intelligence to lead MSI's forces, and the long term strategic thinking to protect a planet. (Gives a small bonus to all Rolls when Forces are Deployed. if veteran is high enough they will win a battle section on their own without player input.)
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(Vice Admiral John Carlile POV)
You breathed in and sighed the silent prayer that would be all the mourning you could give to the loss of your men.
Damn that bastard Morgan...he's thrown everything into disarray.
He was in the middle of reviewing force deployments and veteran population densities in the colony: old guard rifle units, mechanized warfare specialists, engineers, and logistical experts. Men that he may be forced to recall and reorganize for the road ahead.
Hestia and Helena had the largest populations of veterans outside of Terra 2 proper, but they were also the more...difficult units. Sixth Fleet Survivors you dragged with you after they surrendered following the end of the Siege of Shadow and your "Exile" to Halcyon.
Eridonos is where most of the engineering corps went, but with the uncertainty of-
"SR's..." You groaned recalling them, it seems no matter how far you go, you just can't be rid of the Red Lion's bureaucracy.
You only hoped they didn't get all your men killed by sabotaging the engines keeping the land afloat.
It was hard enough making land in a gas giant work in the rare habitable zone and it would be a shame if they lost it.
"Sir here's that settlement record for Vets in Monarch?" An aide said.
"Thank you." You said.
Hmm, Monarch, now this was a place most of the Motor Rifle, and Security Buy-in's went. Shame, you could use a few of them.
"Hmm, most of them are a varied bunch, if you organize the whole...they have something." You said.
"Sir?" The Aide said.
"Monarch is were a bunch of men from Shadow Retired...and now the ones in MSI will be paying dividends...God Speed Corpo Reformer...your gonna need it to manage this bunch I barely could?"
-------------------
(Sanjar POV)
Sanjar looked at the Veteran groups in Steller Bay. "All of them are Directorate Vets?"
"Some are Independents...but yeah," Cecilia said.
"And they are going to help?" You said. "With the Manpower problem."
"No...but they are going to help with the organizational and training aspect. They are going to enjoy their retirement working for a fair wage in the Cannery or Fishery." She said.
"Oh, at least some of it is helpful." You said.
Reward: All trained and Raised MSI forces now start with One Rank higher (originally it was 1/5) now it is 2/5
-------------------
Your Equipment as you saw it was...well made...
"Jesus Christ and the Khalsa..." You said looking at the equipment warehouse.
"Yes sir...the MSI's top-rated Armored Assault Weapons...best in the Planet If I do say so myself." The Engineer and security officer said.
"We have armored assault vehicles?" You said.
"Yep 25 Khalsa Greywolf Armored Assault Vehicles. And this was what we were allowed to keep after stocking the fleet. "
Ahh, the Khalsa Greywolf, formerly a combat idea plan for a fighting vehicle left over from the Seventh War's drawing board from one of the more militant corporations, it floated around until Hirai found it and breathed new life into it.
With a 125 mm auto cannon, and 2 anti-infantry corrosion machine guns, this weapons platform has been turned into a god of destruction. The half-track design gives the weapons platform a solid base to attack from, regardless of the terrain.
While Hirai was still working out some of the kinks in the reliability of the weapons, there is no arguing that this weapon systems has been optimized for destruction, with even the best defensive bunkers being reduced into many small broken chunks within a couple hours, even if a few tons of ammo is necessary to accomplish such a deed.
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[X]United Language(-1 CP) : Your entire faction knows a single language that they can use to communicate to each other. More importantly, you all understand the various cultural differences within your faction. While your members may be a mixing pot of so many different heritages, your people are always able to understand each other, and work together for a better tomorrow. (Start with something of a Unified Linguistic Background and with it a sense of common community even if most of the colony is either from Earth, the Colonies or somewhere in the Deep Periphery) [X]The Union of Monarch and its Union Man (-3 CP): Sanjar has always spent personal resources to help grow and develop the MSI union. Not only that, but he has truly listened to the union workers, and attempted to fight for their rights at great personal and economic costs at time. These fights have helped convinced even the most stubborn, radical socialists to at least hear him out. However, his willingness to speak out for the union has only led the board to believe the union is Sanjar's pet army in waiting, and they had curtailed much of the investment into the planetary security forces before Sanjar came into power. But with all the sacrifices made for their benefit time and time again in the years before the now rebranded MSI UNION of Steller Bay and Starbrook gladly considers Sanjar a "Union Man." (Bonus to diplomacy with socialist powers, and an Ally/Vassal: The Commune of Starbrook Quarry, however, start with less available Security Forces Manpower as you need to hold the City and the Commune.) [X]The Unity of a Union (+1 CP): You have few options in this time of struggle and war. You need some help in order to make sure that Monarch doesn't immediately fall. You have cultivated a relationship with the union, and now that things are in this dire state, it is time to call in some favors. Hopefully, they will be able to help in small but important ways, relaxing certain rules, like working hours and safety regulations.
(Sanjar POV)
Wait...that can't be right at all?
"So Ms. Robins...Do they all speak English as a second language? Given the drift to ethnic languages and periphery dialects we would have a harder sense of understanding them." You were somewhat surprised at such uniformity.
You remembered a time when the early refugees that came in were functionally a different language due to a mix of Hindi and other Punjab dialects, fleeing from oppression from a Chinese conglomerate from Mars.
"They are educated from the Fair/New Deal Diaspora and Trade schools." She said.
"Ahh, give them a note and find the teachers among them for, reforming." You said.
Reward: Your people understand each other and will not suffer social breakdown if things go wrong.
-------------------
Sanjar knew being called a Union man was a sacrilegious name for a CEO, and yet it was the price he paid for this experiment.
"Sanjar, Sir. You need to come to the hospital immediately! Its bad!" Your secretary suddenly told you after rushing into the room.
You tried to deflect, "Ms. Robbins, I understand you feel I need to see my doctor, but-"
"Sir, Graham, or perhaps his underlings attacked the Starbrook Quarry. They just sent over their most injured, its over 50 people", your secretary immediately interrupted.
Realizing the gravity of the situation you immediately stood up from your desk and rushed to the door. On the way to the hospital, you asked your secretary for more details about the situation, "What the hell happened? I thought everyone at the Starbrook Commune was loyal... or well, at least non-violent. They always preferred strikes and sit-ins to any sort of actual violence, when I dealt with them."
Instead of your secretary, a member of your accompanying guard details answers, "Sir, the escorts they sent didn't even stay long enough to see the whole caravan into the hospital properly. Apparently things are really bad at the commune. but some of the injured were able to give some information before the doctors saw to them. They said that the commune was holding one of its regular council meetings to determine actions and funding for the next few months in the wake of the amber heights massacre, when some foreign hecklers started yelling about fake socialism. They said they had accepted a fair amount of refugees and just assumed it was some folks who didn't know how the local system worked. Next thing you know, someone's thrown grenades at the family sections, and were yelling something about getting their just desserts for selling out their future to work under another CEO."
You are surprised by the detail, but before you can respond, your secretary cuts in.. warily, "Sergeant Zhukov? You were the messenger they sent from the entrance guards that were initially handling this mess when this caravan arrived, right?"
As the guard nodded, Secretary Robbins continued, "Didn't you tell me you were sure that this was definitely an assault by Graham and his Iconoclasts? You made it sound like he personally appeared. Instead, it sounds like there's every chance this could be a false flag operation."
Sergeant Zhukov responded clumsily, "But, who else could it be? We know what kind of bastard Graham is! He just up and left us in our time of need! Of course, he'd do something like this!"
Your secretary directed her response at you, stating, "Don't assume! Graham has never done anything like this, and I can't imagine him trying to target bloody families and children. Sanjar, Sir, we need to conduct a proper investigation to figure out who did this. I have the feeling this may be a board plot or just some other malicious group out to stir up some chaos."
Realizing they had both focused on the wrong thing, you finally spoke up, "Before any of that, how bad did things turn out? How is the Starbrook Quarry Commune doing? Do they need help?"
Your secretary's eyes shifted back to the guard, who answered, "Not well? It sounds like most of them still support you. Only a handful of idiots joined the murderous bozos when they left. However, it sounds like they've got a lot of injured. We already had some nurses join the escorts returning to the quarry, but I think they might need some help with food and other daily necessities until enough of them have recovered to get back to work. It definitely sounded like they wouldn't be able to help us soon. I'm not sure how accurate all those details are, though, and anyone who could give you a proper answer has either left or is going to be busy in the hospital getting treated. The people they brought had some terrible injuries, and I'm not sure how many will make it. Way too many children, too"
You flinched at the image of hurt children, before answering, "Damn, it sounds like we've got our work cut out for us. Make sure we do as much as we can for the injured, and Ms. Robbins, please set up a meeting with my military and Logistics advisors. I will need to determine if we have the leeway to send additional help their way. I know we are stretched thin as it is... It might not be worth it"
As you finally arrived at the hospital, you couldn't help but feel sick to your stomach. How could you let this happen? They had targeted families! targeted children! and you didn't even have any idea of who it could be!
Reward: Starbrook has been attacked by a Radicalized Group somewhere in the Monarch Wilderness, a Militia has been raised to assist and will give a +15 to all rolls for the next two turns to assist...do not betray their trust, MSI's future depends on it.
Starbrook currently gives +2 Free AP, and can be lowered or increased based on you actions. Do not betray that trust. The Investigation begins...
==========
[X]Dishonest Dealer (+3 CP): Sanjar will say it himself that he is not a People Person, that was Graham's Expertise, always being the people person as he filled out the paperwork and made sure the language was clear enough to get what he wants…unfortunately, in a world of trust being shown face to face Sanjar has shown that he needs room for improvement, a lot of of improvement. (Small Malus to all Diplomacy actions with all factions.)
"Sanjar, we've got a problem" your secretary announced.
"Please don't tell me it's another bombing. I don't think the quarry can take another hit", you answered, resigning yourself to the worst news you can imagine.
"No sir, it's not that bad," your secretary answers, before hesitating to continue, "... Unfortunately, we have been making inquiries to other nearby caravans and towns and everyone seems skittish. What rumors I've been able to dig up just end up being stories about your days negotiating against the board 'too aggressively'. I'm not sure if the implication is that you did the bombing or something else, but we'll need to work just to get people to talk to us. The whole situation stinks, Sanjar, and I'm not exactly sure what is causing it."
Sanjar could only nod and return to his paperwork, leaving the mystery of MSI's reputation as a matter for another day. It wasn't an emergency, and that meant you could put it off a little bit.
Wait… who would try to, try that.
Hmm, this can't get any worse?
Not unless the more unsavory tactics you used to get everything here?
————-
Fellow Citizens of Halcyon we have a breaking update on the Monarch MSI Split, the Criminal Mastermind Sanjar Nandi is guilty of.
Breaking Contract.
Bribery...
Extortion of Board Member bureaucrats.
Soliciting Funds and Union Rallying without a license.
"God damn it." Sanjar said.
-------------------
[X]Mighty Medics (-3 CP): Seeing the chaotic times ahead, one of the first deals Sanjar made was to get some medics to come to Monarch, and help build a proper healthcare infrastructure.... and this decision has continued to hurt your wallet ever since you made it. And all for a third rate healthcare system.... which is still connected planet-wide, and is ensuring far fewer people are lost in this chaos. Yes somehow one of your greatest achievements as things fall apart is the fact that a Corporate Run Planet that doesn't even have total control has one thing the Board can never claim to have fully implemented, a poorly run social healthcare department. (Medical emergencies across the planet are mitigated somewhat, troops heal faster. Doctors are overworked.)
You sat in the uncomfortable waiting room chair in the front reception of the hospital, steadily working through the large stack of paperwork you had brought with you. It was hard to focus with all the noise, but you knew how to ignore all the distractions.
Your secretary waited at the front desk, trying to find a free nurse or other medical staff who could either schedule your next appointment with your doctor, or let you know if he was available right now. As her patience wore thin, she finally spoke as if to assuage you, but you knew her words were more for herself, "I know we've been waiting a while sir, but I'm sure that nurse will be free soon to attend to us and-"
Suddenly, the wailing of a young toddler disrupted your conversation, as he begged to go inside the surgery room to see his unconscious mother and confirm she was alright.
Even before the toddler could calm himself, the tension in the hospital skyrocketed as suddenly several gurneys filled with several heavily injured people came rushing through. From the brief glimpse of the victims you got, you were able to tell they had probably been involved in another Mantisaur attack. As your assistant gaped at the scene, you decided to inform her, "This is why I was telling you this wouldn't work, Ms. Robbins. The hospital is extremely busy with the recent spike in wildlife attacks, couple with the... desertion of some of our soldiers who were supposed to prevent events like this. I know you said that I had renovated and improved the hospital system on Monarch, but my changes, (mainly a functional ambulance system) have insured that anyone who needs urgent care will get to these hospitals before they die, not that doctor's will work miracles. As you can see, my improvements have probably made the doctor's more busy, not less."
Your secretary gaped at the scene for a few seconds before challenging you, "Sir, surely a few ambulances isn't all that you had to offer? You hired more doctors and nurses, right? there shouldn't be young children wandering the halls crying for their mommy being completely ignored."
You looked around and noticed the same young toddler who had been wailing earlier now wandering the halls, begging for someone to let him see his mommy. It was a heartbreaking scene, and yet you knew the truth.
"Ms. Robbins, as hard as it is to believe, what you see before you is a system that at least somewhat works, and is far better than what most of the system has. I had to fight the board for even just these improvements. Most of the time, they would prefer to cut costs, because they care more about the PR," you said motioning at the young boy, "than the actual care and lives saved. After all, they'd argue it wouldn't be worth the money spent saving the mom if you had newspapers running the story about that young crying child." Me, I know we can do better, but I'm just glad we are able to save the lives that we can.
Ms. Robbins seemed to in your tired slumped figure for a second before responding, "Sir, there has to be a better way. I know we are saving lives, but support for emotional trauma and psychological wounds needs to also matter. We can't triage most of the population away until they are close to dying! That child deserves care! You deserve care!"
You gave a sad little grin before answering, "And perhaps we can improve the system even more in the future so what you say is true. But for now, this is the best we can do. And improving it will take significant investments in developing the education system, in expanding these facilities and in improving the equipment. We've done our best for now and its made a difference. We need to be happy with that."
Your secretary gave you an unhappy look, but conceded the point. "Now, since it seems that I've finished all the paperwork I brought with me, perhaps we can go back to the office so that I can finish the rest of my work?", you insisted.
Once again, your secretary conceded to your wisdom and made to the door. You looked back at the hospital, know that your years of effort to get it to this point had been worth it, considering how many lives had been saved. You tried to truly convince yourself that you had done a good job. And yet, your secretary's words continued to repeat in your head as you watched a young toddler quietly cry his hear out as he wandered from door to door, trying to figure out which room his mom had been taken too. You had done a good job, you tried to remind yourself, as you watched a young boy self destruct in front of you.
-------------------
[X]Barebone Necessities (+3 CP): The Board never really invested in the local education system beyond the bare necessities, and Sanjar always had overlooked the institution. However, after the Amber Heights massacre, and Board's blockade, the remaining students and professors have offered their services to MSI, as long as Sanjar continues to fund the college. The college barely functions to provide Halcyon certification courses in its current state, but it does have the facilities for basic research, and more importantly, the computers and manpower necessary for extensive analysis. While the university is far from competitive, it does provide a valuable opportunity for Sanjar. It should be possible to use the extra manpower to help accelerate research, even if Sanjar will need to spend resources in order to ensure that the lights stay on. (Small decrease in research time, Low per turn resource cost for university)
[X]'Apolitical' professors (+2 CP) : Sanjar had been depending on the fact that the scientists and researchers at the monarch field research campus would help support MSI after it's separation from the board. After all, he had helped establish this university, and had spent resources and energy to set up this university system, and had continuously ensured material and political support for the university. However, the professors there now demand a change to the deal, demanding freedom from the non-compete clauses, as well as more freedom to choose, or at least veto, research topics they are not interested in. It is rapidly becoming more and more clear that your only source of research is preparing to declare itself independent, and will be willing to sell any research they accomplish to all parties. They may even be selling certain research to other factions exclusively, charging higher prices to ensure you can't get your hands on certain advancements. You can't be sure why this is happening; whether or is over some lingering attachments and influence from Graham, or if it's the board, but it seems that one of your enemies has neutralized one of your greatest tools without you discovering anything (less research options available, all research has a moderate chance of immediately spreading to enemy or rival factions within range of monarch, research finishes much more quickly, exclusive research is possible but research cost is doubled) [X]A Better Ecosystem(-1 CP): Research has been conducted into the monarch ecosystem and how it works. Not only has this led to improvements in fishing and other resource gathering, but it has also lead to bonuses when handling the dangerous animal and fauna of Monarch. While the board has often considered this research focus to be a waste of money, it is now paying dividends for Sanjar, as the research has provided at least some temporary measures that he can use to tame the wildlife of Monarch. While the planet is still dangerous, this research has kindled the hope that Monarch can still be colonized properly, and turned into the paradise it was always promised to be. (Lower chance of negative events occurring during turns, increase food and resource production, can be sold on the Black Market for Favors and Resorces.) [X]Profitability Policy (+1 CP): The board had a policy of pursuing research that strictly was supposed to contribute to the bottom line of the company, and many rules were created to focus research. Unfortunately, this lead to a culture of overlooking new possibilities and avenues of research, even those that might be profitable, but would require investment before such gains could become obvious. (Bonus to research speed, but a reduction in new research options, can be overcome with reform actions.)
[X]A Better Ecosystem(-1 CP): Research has been conducted into the monarch ecosystem and how it works. Not only has this led to improvements in fishing and other resource gathering, but it has also lead to bonuses when handling the dangerous animal and fauna of Monarch. While the board has often considered this research focus to be a waste of money, it is now paying dividends for Sanjar, as the research has provided at least some temporary measures that he can use to tame the wildlife of Monarch. While the planet is still dangerous, this research has kindled the hope that Monarch can still be colonized properly, and turned into the paradise it was always promised to be. (Lower chance of negative events occurring during turns, increase food and resource production, can be sold on the Black Market for Favors and Resources.)
"Ms. Robbins, what exactly is this? Why exactly are all our food processing factories sending plans that including using their subsidies in payments to the local universities. What exactly is happening?" Sanjar asked, finally looking up from his crowded desk.
His secretary answered, "Sir, it appears that some of the local professors recently had a breakthrough with controlling the nesting grounds of smaller animals, such as saltuna, and the smaller, subterranean cousins of mantisaurs"
"Wait, what? We have underground Mantisaurs? Art there any under the bay?!" Sanjar exclaimed in fear, looking around at the floor.
"No sir, think much smaller, like earth termites. they are tiny little things, and apparently you can farm them along with mushrooms. They aren't dangerous at all, and considering the fact that they are edible and not dangerous, we really should support any farming efforts with them. The Researchers made some calculations on the calorie and proteins value of what the farms they could set up in the immediate future, and it looks like it should be enough to sustain population of Stellar Bay; just Stellar Bay's current population, but maybe we might be able to support more in the future if we invest more into this problem" Ms. Robbins calmly answered.
"So what wonder drug did they end up finding? I have the feeling the solution is more complicated than some research papers about nesting habits" Sanjar asked, knowing how the scientists loved to over-engineer their solutions.
His secretary smirked knowingly, before giving a full answer, "Apparently, they were able to figure out individual temperature and scent solutions that work for a lot of smaller species. The solution is not as strong as some fictional animal mind control, but it does ensure that if there isn't outside interference, that the animals will consider the local perfect for breeding and nesting. I think they got their mad science kick from the 'nesting incubator' they made to test the thesis, but it actually looks like real world application isn't that complicated or expensive. Sir, I think you should approve of the requests for spending. It really is worth it, and I don't think they will have another easy way to use the money for farming or other food production"
"Fine, I'll sign the damn papers. Still, eating insects; I can't imagine it will be popular.. or tasty," Sanjar complained, being of two minds about the fact that MSI's immediate hunger problem had been solved, but that it would mean eating insects for the foreseeable future.
Reward: Resolve all food issues for MSI and the city of Stellar Bay, although food supply issues may reappear if MSI significantly expands
-------------------
"Sanjar, you have to understand, we just don't conduct this type of research. There's never been much profit in Genetic Manipulation in Halcyon, and I don't really think you'll make it worth our time to open up an entirely new department for this." the president of the Monarch Stellar bay university emotionlessly responded.
Sanjar couldn't believe it. "Surely, there must be something we could do. food security, food availability is one of the most important things for any colony and genetic research is useful field of study to-" he began to bargain.
"Sanjar, if it mattered, you would've given us money before this. You would've helped with our recruitment efforts. You would've helped us streamline our accounts, so that we wouldn't be spending so much on maintenance these days. Sanjar, I know you don't actually care. You have one project in mind, and after that, an entire department will be left to rot. If you really cared about any of these research projects or fields, you would've helped grow this university before this. You would've made sure we had enough money to have more than a couple full sized departments. As it stands now, I can't afford to serve your interests exclusively. My students and faculty have to eat too. " The President responded.
Sanjar couldn't believe the shamelessness of the man in front of him, using frugality as his excuse when it was clear from his outfit alone that he had money to spare, not to mention his luxurious office.
Sanjar shook his head, responding "Please, there must be something you could do! If we could just-"
"Sanjar!" the president interrupted, "We already sent the information about the ecosystem research, and the ability to manipulate breeding patterns to your food processing plants. That's all we can do, and unlike you, personally, they were willing to pay full price for it. You want cheap food! Do your own research, with the money you refused to appropriate for investing into the future! Or perhaps, instead you could understand that most of our research is into heavy machinery and vehicles. We have our specialty, our limitations. and you have to understand that you will have to abide by the same limitations that everyone else does. Don't you dare try to shortchange us!"
Sanjar could only shake his head. He knew how much money the university was able to extort out of everyone for what limited research they did. He knew they charged at least 2-3 times the standard rate for such research in the rest of the galaxy, and that after Amber Heights, they would only get even worse. Already, they were a leech, draining resources from the poor communities of monarch mainly to support their own extravagant lifestyles rather than accomplish any actual research. Sanjar had tried to starve them of resources before MSI broke off from the board, but the shrewd professor and his university had somehow figured out a way to survive, and now were taking his revenge.
Looking over the catalogue of possible research that MSI could buy from the university, Sanjar could only feel like the president was giving him the option of paying to keep up with the tech advantage that the board already had.
The people of Monarch needed food! They needed water! They needed their daily necessities! and yet, it seemed that all the university could offer were expensive boondoggles. And yet, Sanjar had the feeling that this research had already found its way into the boards hands, and he was just paying to keep up in this war.
How many people would have to starve just so that Sanjar could secure the chance of victory? He could barely support the stellar bay right now, much more all of Monarch! and how much worse would things get when the board organized themselves to do more than a blockade?
Sanjar could only grimace at the thoughts of the future, feeling like he had signed up thousands of people for their death because he wasn't able to secure useful research to solve the food production problems today. And yet, there was no other way forward than to accept the failure today and hope things would be better in the future.
Reward: Permanently be cut off from Genetic Manipulation Research, unless stealing existing research from other factions; have limited research options in the future
-------------------
[X]Enduring Logistics (-3 CP): Sanjar has always focused on making sure everyone is prepared and knows what needs to be done for a job.... and it is this moment of crisis that that tendency for overpreparation pays off, as the common worker still knows how to do their job, and deal with any complications and problems that may arise from these necessary tasks. Many executives and technical experts lay dead... but your people know enough about how to handle the common tasks and problems that they can continue on without much delay or problem. (Logistical issues when deploying forces outside and on Monarch itself are very small, in terms economics your solid)
Your secretary continued her report, "As for our external stockpiles, they have been depleted a fair amount in order to deal with the minor emergencies, such as the animal stampedes, the various raider attacks, and everything else that has been going wrong recently, and that isn't even touching on bigger events like the attack on the Starbrook Quarry Commune, or what happened at Amber Heights.... but we still have something left. "
You could only shake your head while answering, "Those reserves, those troves of medical supplies, food, and other daily necessities that we have stashed across monarch are supposed to be used for emergency situations. I'm just glad that we haven't burned through them already. Now, will we have any problems with supplying the teams of medics and soldiers we have sent out or-?
"Thankfully, the supply convoys you have organized have ensured that they will stay supplied for the time being.... I'm surprised, sir. I didn't realize how useful all those old freight trucks would be"
You chuckled, "Well, I'm glad one of my plans is working properly, at least. Those trucks were supposed to help with any supply problems for communities outside of Stellar Bay once MSI broke away from the Board, and they are doing exactly that, even with unpredictability caused by all the recent animal attacks. Those old freighters have proven far more reliable than I would've expected."
Your secretary could only smile at that, "Yes sir, and predictions are that once we activate the whole fleet, it should be more than enough to supply operations across Monarch, at least for the next few years. I'll keep an eye on the problem, but I don't think you will have to micromanage this problem. The overworked doctors and ER staff, on the other hand"
Sanjar leaned back on his chair, getting ready to deal with the next crisis, "Lay it on me. How bad is the situation"
-------------------
[X]Sacrifices Recognized (-3 CP): Sanjar has seen the disaster that the Blockade has brought to Monarch. Sanjar has seen the worst possible results that could occur now that Monarch is on its own. Sanjar knows what is at stake... so he has sacrificed, personally, in order to save what people he can... And people, not just his people, but representatives of the downtrodden from all political stripes and backgrounds have seen this sacrifice, and recognize the charitable spirit behind Sanjar's actions. (decrease in starting AP, but start with a Bonus to those who share similarities to your Ideology or at least some of your policies and those who are at least somewhat more "Lawful", it makes it harder for the Board to sell Monarch as "A Haven of Outlaws" ) [X]Out of position(+2 CP): Sanjar did have a plan.... And then the Amber heights massacre happened, the board intensified their blockade, and the wildlife collectively seemed to go mad with rage at the same time.... And Bryant went rogue.
But Sanjar did have a plan, even for something like this.... It was just that he expected more time to respond to all these threats. Now he has to haul what remaining experts and managers he does have from across Monarch to where they will be needed. In the meantime, the MSI will be left floundering, though, and there will be nothing he can do about it. (start with a negative economic debuff that will be resolved in 2 turns):
After another less than satisfying meeting with the academic board, Sanjar returned to the warehouse district, his secretary reminding him about the local party the union was throwing to show their support for him. You couldn't help but notice the other warehouses, lights on, with long lines of destitute, starving, and homeless snaking outside of them. You guessed that they were probably lined up for the free food that MSI was now serving from their emergency stores (at least, until they re-established connection to their food production centers). It hurt to see so many people suffering, but Sanjar knew it was important to quickly regain his composure. He was going to a public outing, a celebration being held for him. He had no time for a dour face when the Union was supposed to be holding a party for him.
And yet, as you walked in, you couldn't but remember the hungry growling of stomachs, and the looks of gaunt cheeks in that crowd of suffering. As they gave you applause and cheers for your accomplishments, you couldn't help but notice how the children tried to fill their bellies hear at your party, while their parents and caterers repeatedly reminded them about the ration limits. You noticed the lack of cake, or celebratory desert, and instead the dressing up of common rations like burgers, soups and other meals, put into a slightly fancier packaging to make the party feel more fancy. You noticed the signs noting that guests were limited to 2 bottles of water, per the ration limits. You even noticed the same gaunt cheeks, the pained smiles, and even the tired of eyes of adults, weary of holding back their hunger and exhaustion.
You knew the problem would be fixed eventually. Things hadn't been going to plan, and it seemed not even the Universities could help, but you had others who would solve the problem soon. There was an agriculture team who would be back within the month, and they would probably be able to set up the insect farms, even if they would need some time to work out the kinks of the process. You had engineers hurrying from across the moon in order to examine the saltuna factory and make the process of food production more efficient. According to your secretary, this whole food problem should be resolved soon, even if it was painful now. You... you would have people to solve this problem very soon....right? .... You didn't mean to fail, to leave people hungry. You just hadn't been prepared to lose so much at Amber heights and....
and the party continued. People came up and shook your hand. They came and said thank you personally, while their children hung off their hip looking like they hadn't eaten a proper meal in days. You walked to the next person, and you saw the open grief and the well worn tracks of tears on their face, from having lost a loved one to all this chaos. And they too thanked you. all while you did nothing.
And then you moved on to the next body, as you noticed the smoking ruins of the amber heights apartments all around you instead of the party venue. As you once again did nothing, people hurried about to try find survivors that didn't exist because of you. but then you noticed the outstretched charred hand, reaching towards the sky with a all too familiar bracelet, charred but recognizable. It had been a birthday gift you had given her. Your old secretary had always been a good friend to you. And so you grasped her hand, and you heard her voice from beneath the rubble, thanking you. and so you moved onto the next body, another close friend, from engineering this time. As you looked at his caved in safety helmet and burn-scarred remains of his face, you grasped his hand. And so too did this friend, this casualty of Amber heights thank you for sacrificing him in an impossible struggle. And then you moved onto the next body...
and the next....
and the next....
You kept shaking the hands of everyone on Monarch, and they thanked you for you sacrificing them. You kept shaking hands and being appreciated for the inevitable destruction of everything you held dear.
Until you finally came up to Graham, standing there as an ever reliable ally. He told you the same old complaints with a grin on that untarnished skull. You shook his bony, skinless hand, as he thanked you for compromising in the fight against the board, in not doing what needed to be done, in ultimately ensuring everyone and everything on Monarch died. You shook his hand, and he thanked you for killing monarch.
and then you went home. Everyone at the party recognizing your efforts and sacrifices. Everyone, but Sanjar himself.
When you woke the next morning, your secretary reminded you about going to the doctor, and a therapist. And you told her the truth. You were too busy. You would have to do it later.
MSI has 8 Free AP this turn.
TURN 1 ACTIONS:
Diplomacy
You have 2 Diplomacy AP
[]Gage the Morale: Recent events... event events have shaken people. You let everyone know that it would be a hard fight, but now its looking frankly impossible, with monarch turning on itself. You need to know where everyone stands, how badly their support of you is shaken. You need to know what they are actually thinking, and what you need to accomplish to regain their support. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 50%. Reward: You gauge the Morale of your People and some of their needs.
[]Cast the Net, Find Trade and Trade Partners: communities have gone dark. It feels like half the moon disappeared overnight. Sanjar already has his people wondering about their loved ones back home, and he has nothing to tell them. Worse, as more and more people wander into stellar bay, stranger and stranger rumors come in about the outside world that Sanjar has so suddenly been cut off from. Now, he hears about the rise of tyrants, or the creation of new socialist communes, and even stranger things. He's also heard tales of what Graham has been up to, ever since he left MSI... some stories Sanjar doesn't want to believe. The world feels like its going mad, and Sanjar needs to do something to figure out what is going on out there. He has a duty to govern all of Monarch, not just the bay near his headquarters. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 40%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You learn of some of the Communities of Monarch that have sprung up and try to contact them.
[] Organize the City Council: The Steller Bay City Council was supposed to be a rubberstamp, a way to legitimize the larger social control of the Board over the wider population. Its an old trick, and one Sanjar planned long ago to support his own agenda. It started with little programs, street cleaning budget and trash collection, sanitation duty, and later, even enforcement of wider city laws with a Local non-corporate police force. Now with things going to shit far more then he could have predicted it was time to give them far more responsibility and hope they are ready for it. Because we are all in this Raft of a city together now...and the time to back out ended a long time ago with the last evacuation shuttle. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 30%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You attempt to Organize your Civilian Government from a Rubberstamp to something that can handle power.
[]Organize the Union!: When Sanjar first led MSI to break off from the board, it was the union that provided the critical support needed to both Hold and keep the City of Steller Bay and the surrounding Countryside. While many of their leaders are now dead, missing or...in the case of the more radical ones wandered off to play warlord...its time to review and reorient their assets to the road ahead. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 60%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You Organize and give direction to the UNION of MSI, and prevent...issues.
Research
You have 1 Research AP
[] Forget the stim, Use the Vats!: The board always pushed adreno healing stims, but your doctors suggest that there must be a more beneficial solution for heavy injuries with dedicated medical equipment. They have suggested Healing Vats, with controlled inputs of various specialized types of healing fluids and drugs in order to quicken recovery times and even possibly completely replace traditional medical techniques for certain injuries. They suggest that this should provide the means for more specialized care, especially with a smaller workforce. While some of your older doctor's are lamenting this possible change, suggesting personal care from a physician is always better, even they admit that if this technology works, it would probably be the only real solution you could use to lighten the load on your overworked medical system. You just hope that this treatment won't end up having any unintended side effects if implemented. Cost: 3 AP, Chance Of Success: 40%. Successes Needed: 4. Reward: Medical Vat Technology researched and put into general circulation on Monarch (And Possibly Halcyon)
[] Elite Armor, Irreplaceable Armor?: The board has always been stingy with defense measures, especially on Monarch. It was always clear that they were giving your forces the cheapest weapons and armor you can buy. However, some lucky warehouse worker's ended up finding a single misplaced elite armor set, that you presume was supposed to be given either to more elite bodyguard units on Terra 2, or was supposed to be sent to the directorate forces. Either way, you have an example of elite armor, and your scientists are demanding the money and resources to research into how to recreate it, or even mass manufacture it. However, while this could be a great boon, you understand how volatile the research process could be, and you either might end up wasting the suit when you don't have the research tools available to properly study it, or you might end up finding some way to recreate this elite armor, that is unfortunately far, far too expensive for you to employ at this time. You need to be carefully, and cautiously consider whether this risky research is worthwhile. Cost: 3 AP, Chance Of Success: 60%. Successes Needed: 3. Reward: MSI Specialist Armor is created and added to the MSI Arsenal.
[] Mantiswarm Magic: Quite honestly, you had forgotten this project existed. This research was fairly cheap, and it kept some of your more brilliant researchers happy, by giving them a topic they liked that they could look into in between more important projects. But now, they have purportedly come up with a solid prototype design, and are asking for a significant funding increase to test and hopefully complete the design. Ultimately, while you do have some spare fighters for your airforce, these researchers are offering to design a significant improvement to your fighter wing, that can maintain the top speed of current designs, but significantly increase maneuverability, and even enable extreme maneuverability at low speeds (similar to hummingbirds or mantiswarms). Purportedly, they were able to merge common fighter designs with the wing design of a mantiswarm, and somehow, it all works fine. If this research pans out, you could turn your planetary fighter wing into a ground support unit, and use it like an attack helicopter, in addition to its traditional role as a dogfighter. They even mentioned some preliminary attempts to replicate the plasma blasts that mantiswarms can purportedly spit out, although that seems ludicrously far from cost-effective considering current research findings. Cost: 4 AP, Chance Of Success: 60%. Successes Needed: 5. Reward: You make the "Mantiswarm Combat Package" to upgrade your fighters and possibly create new designs for the future.
[] Operation Vanderbelt: You wanted to strangle the man that came up with this logistically pipe dream and distracted so many of your researchers for decades... especially if this latest proposal doesn't work. The Vanderbilt project has been a long standing project to investigate the construction of necessary infrastructure for Monarch. You loved the idea of using trains normally, and even you understood how terrible of an idea it would be to try and implement a standard transit or freight system would be, considering the very real likelihood for the earthquakes and sulfur pits to melt the tracks. This boondoggle of a research project, after decades of wasting money, seems to have finally come up with a feasible proposal that could finally tie all of monarch together... but only if you believe the sweet idyllic promises of your researchers. They have proposed the Vanderbilt Cable Monorail system, which relies on a super-strong cable supported over 20 yards in the air by a dense tower network, out of the reach of the dangerous monarch fauna. Supposedly, this system will automatically detect when any segment of cable is somehow damaged despite this protection and will autonomously replace said track/cable segment within a couple hours, although you are a bit more doubtful on the capabilities of a robot marginally smarter than a roomba being able to repair a high speed cable track in hostile conditions. Your researchers assure you that with proper funding, they can make this system work whatever disaster may end up ravaging the moon, and that the only real failure point will be the many towers which help shape and support the cable route, and house all the repair facilities and droids. However, you have the feeling that this long standing problem might be a bit more difficult than these researchers realize, and that their few special tricks might not be enough to make this concept Monarch-ready. Cost: 4 AP, Chance Of Success: 30%. Successes Needed: 20. Reward: You organize, and finish, properly this time, ...Operation Vanderbelt on Monarch, without making a mess. Making it will be more difficult.
Stewardship
You have 2 Stewardship AP
[] Rebuild the Fishery Factory: Well it seems that the Steller Bay Fishery took a number from the Orbital Bombardment that followed the Amber Heights Massacre, it is time for what comes after, rebuilding and restocking the factory to modern standards, with updated safety and health regulations to keep the Union happy. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 80%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You organize, and rebuild your fishery, and make food production a thing again.
[] Organize the Refugees: The Storm has passed, and the worst appears to be over, now is the time to reorganize who is left, and alive to build a future. There will be time to mourn so many in due time, but now we must focus on the problems of today not the pain of yesterday. Sanjar looks at the speech and sighed. "I only hope I don't come off as pushy…but things will get worse if we don't start today." Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 90%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You organize, and sort the Refugee's in Steller Bay into working citizens.
[] Tax Codes, Law Codes, and the Law Damned Code of the Frontier: The Board, despite its corporate-controlled nature of rulership, taxed the fuck out of everything from alcohol (Because of a mass drinking epidemic nearly 20 years ago) to grave sites (Land belonged to the townships, and townships belonged to the corps). It was cruel and inefficient to the average worker and taxpayer, Sanjar looked at the ledger and shouted. "WE CAN DO BETTER!" He already ran the calculations, now came the cutting of unneeded taxes and regulations. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 40%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You remake the tax code whole cloth to make it manageable to your situation
[]Organize the caravans: With so much of Monarch suddenly cut off from each other, you already know that most communities must be suffering. The board had tried to make each community fairly specialized, but with recent events, you know that the lack of self sufficiency across Monarch is now a gaping weakness that effects so many people. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to restart trade, with all the dangerous wildlife, and everything else that has happened. And yet it isn't impossible. If you can free up a fair amount of firepower, and use them to guard a massive caravan that will wind its way across Monarch, its possible to restart trade, to a certain degree. It will be like your current logistics trade convoy system, but even bigger. It won't be the most efficient trade system ever, but it should ensure that all the local communities are kept afloat with the supplies they need, and should help invigorate your economy to a certain extent. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 50%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You organize, trade caravans to work towards the remaking of your economy.
Intrigue
You have 1 Intrigue AP
[] Hot on his trail!: Graham and his band of iconoclasts have supposedly been busy, ever since they tore monarch apart with their defection. Graham is certainly not someone to avoid controversy, and you are already hearing stories about his supposed actions. In times like these, with so many different crisis, its easy to lose track of a few things. But Graham is far too dangerous to leave unattended, and it would be a mistake to not keep track of his location. You still have some idea about where he's been, and if you send someone to follow his tracks, you are sure you can follow his little band of radicals wherever they may try to hide. Cost: 2 AP, Chance Of Success: 45%. Successes Needed: 3. Reward: You organize a search for the Iconoclasts and their band.
[] Data Breach: The board and their fleets continue to float around the planet, attempting to secure their blockade. By all rights, they should be able to bombard you to oblivion, but the fleet above hasn't made any move or action. Its beginning to look more and more suspicious. And now, some of your more intrepid programmers and hackers are suggesting something insane. Instead of waiting around until the board gets their act together, they are suggesting trying to hack one of the communication arrays aboard the board fleet, in order to figure out what the board is up to off planet. The plan is incredibly risky, and there's no guarantee they will be able to even upload the virus to one of the warships above, let alone receive a data transmission or two about the state of the system before the virus is scrubbed from their systems. And yet, you know just how valuable information is. And you know just how risky it is to continue to remain blind about what the board may be doing. Cost: 5 AP, Chance Of Success: 15%. Successes Needed: 5. Reward: You send your men to hack the blockade fleet and somehow make an eye into the wider story of Byzantium and Terra 2.
[] In the Kingdom of Monarch's Many Eyes: Monarch's Old Internal Communication Arrays are to put it bluntly, a mess, you can barely tune in and find anything related to useful information in this day and age…but you have to try, with the Broker being considered a last resort due to his "Network Neutrality clause". Now you must summon the Programmers and IT engineers to cut the static and the Noise to finally see what the hell is going on in this cursed planet. Cost: 5 AP, Chance Of Success: 60%. Successes Needed: 5. Reward: You organize and rebuild your connection to Monarch's Spy Satellites. (Unlock Monarch Rumor mill)
[] Pirating Aetherwaves and other signs of Civility: Helena, a moon of Eredonos and known to many as the "Black Port" of Halcyon, is filled with Contractors and other lesser sorts, not free like the Groundbreaker, but not wholly helpless to the Board like many other parts of the Colony. The Haven of Contractors who couldn't make it fully on the Board's Dime left to be the errand boy's to an uncaring colony. Perhaps and with some Luck, you can get something resembling information and a deal could be struck for something…anything at this point. The problem now is getting a smuggler to get the message out, and make the deal. Cost: 4 AP, Chance Of Success: 35%. Successes Needed: 4. Reward: You get a network of information on Helena, and by consequence, the entire "Eridonos Corridor" (Gain the Eridonos Corridor Rumor Mill)
[] Find the Starbrook Quarry Attackers!: With the recent attack at Starbrook Quarry, it is clear that someone, possibly Graham, is already attacking you and your allies. Its time to investigate exactly what happened at the Starbrook Quarry, and see if you can determine where the attackers have gone. Beware, though, that your investigators don't end up going in completely unprepared, and get ambushed just like the commune was. These people obviously considering hurting MSI and its allies a top priority, despite the chaos that has enveloped the planet, and its clear they may be willing to do anything in order to hurt you and your people. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Sucess: ???%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You organize and search for Starbrook's Attackers.
Military Operations
You have 1 Military AP
[]MSI Security and YOU: By the Khalsa that Slogan is terrible, but we need to realize just what exactly our Military Assets are, organizationally, what equipment they have, force deployment patters...do they even have extra pairs of Socks? These are important. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Successes: 90%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You organize, and learn all of your Forces of MSI's Security Forces.
[] Pest Control: While you have been able to exert some control over rampaging animal fauna, it still hasn't completely controlled the recent chaos. Its clear that Mantisaur stampedes and Mega-Canid attacks will continue as long as the ecosystem is still disrupted and the populations of dangerous animals are still large.... which brings to mind a simple idea. Since you aren't actively using your military, perhaps it will be worth it to cut down the population of hostile creatures on monarch, and buy the colonists on the moon some breathing room. You are sure that people will appreciate this this measure to save civilian lives.... but it will mean significant casualties within your forces, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to end the conflict and blockade by Halcyon before these animals grow their populations and become a problem again. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 50%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: MSI Security Forces Go out and Play Big Game Safari Hunter.
[] Over that Blue Horizon: Your sailors are getting antsy, and perhaps it is time to give them something to do. You know that Halcyon publicly claimed that there was nothing of worth out in the ocean, or on any of the islands you know to exist. However, perhaps you should send your ships to explore, especially since its unlikely they will come across anything that can hurt them. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: ??%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You organize, and explore Monarch's Coastal areas. (Roll for encounter with low likelihood of a positive or negative events)
[] Into the Untamed Wilderness, We Go!: With the recent events of Amber heights, you understand the rest of the moon has become a dangerous place to exist. And yet, so many of the resources and machinery you need is outside of stellar Bay. Instead of hiding in your city, perhaps it is time to send out your soldiers and emery to explore and loot the materials and machinery you need. You know there are people out there, doing who knows what to the remnants of civilization, to that ever important machinery and factories that humanity will need to survive on the moon. Before some of the crazies (who have pooped up in light of recent events) can destroy everything MSI and humanity needs to survive, perhaps its time to secure those resources yourself. Just be aware that the outside world is dangerous, and even if you find what you are looking for, you may have to sacrifice people to retrieve it. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: ??%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: Your forces go off to scavenge what is left of the Planet. (Roll for encounter with high likelihood of positive and negative effects)
AN: This took a very long time to make.
From the actions that made sense to the wide buildup of the story arcs to come.
Thank you @Anon500 for being the longsuffering editor in this project.
It will only get easier from here I assure you all.
Canon Backstory: The World will move on without you by Anon500
Pan Seulgi - New Deal Coalition Fleet Admiral/Leader;
Alparslan Batur - Commander/Leader of the Communist Coalition
Wu Huiliang - Leader of the Anubis chapter of the Syndicalist Democrats, and the representative for Anubis on the High Planning Council for the SRA
Faraji Balewa - Leader of the Anubis chapter of the Technocrat Republican, and the backup/assistant representative for Anubis on the High Planning Council for the SRA
Ajit Bhat - Admiral and commanding officer of the 4th Earth Directorate Fleet
Lafiza Khalil - Strategist for the 4th Earth Directorate Fleet. Aide/Assistant to Admiral Bhat
Kanika Aguda - Earth Directorate Senator (Senator of the Congo, Zambia, and Angola)
Zou Li - High Infantry General of the 7th and 8th Deputized Mercenary Legions. Commanding officer of the ground forces accompanying the 4th Earth Directorate Fleet
Darya Ilina - Corporate Liaison (government required civilian position for every fleet) and Representative of the Interstellar Chamber of Commerce
36 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Surface of Anubis:
Perdition Peace Conference
Syndicalist Revolutionaries: Wu Huiliang, Planetary Representative of Anubis
The technocrat Representative, Faraji Balewa, gave a stare before continuing, "You can't be serious, right? We will never be able to get these proposals passed! We have 6 other planets we need to work with, and their politics will just not agree with any of this"
Syndicalist Representative Wu Huiliang responded, "Don't you understand! We don't need to compromise! We have the leeway to get the most extreme terms that everyone else wants into this peace deal!"
Faraji just sighed before countering, "Rep. Huiliang, not everyone is like your syndicalist party compatriots. They have their opinions, and you can't just bully them into agreeing with you! Listen, have you even taken a look at the Political summary I sent this morning! It clearly explains the problems with your idea!"
Analysis of the Internal Politics of SRA member worlds
This is our planet. You know that we follow you and the Syndicalist lead for the most part. nothing else needs to be said.
Main Negotiating Points:
Again, this is our planet, and we are willing to follow your lead on these things. The people have a degree of trust that we will try to get the best possible deal we can for them. Its unlikely that anything you or I will negotiate will be seen as any sort of betrayal. You have the latitude to negotiate.
Relatively stable split between all three parties, this planet hasn't had any strong political trends due to the political deadlock. Laws still get passed, but no one ever really gets dominance and is able to pursue their ideology in its totality. As an SRA member, they've provided an important neutral member and tiebreaker vote for our most contentious issues, so they are still highly valued in our alliance.
Main Negotiating Points:
This is the planet where the conference is happening, so they are trying to emphasize their neutrality and willingness to negotiate. However, they will only support a deal with more extreme terms or concessions if we promise to help them become the dominant political party on the planet, and that is just not something we have the influence to do
This planet used to be a political stronghold for the syndicalist party, which at one point boasted voter shares of up to 70%. However, as the war has gone on, and more and more soldiers were sent to the front from this planet, the populace has slowly become more and more conservative.
Main Negotiating Points:
Ultimately, the more conservative turn of this planet is reflective of a deep war weariness within the population. They do not want to be at war, and I think any representative's highest priority is going to be achieving some sort of peace deal. The political climate is such that I can't imagine this planet even really fighting against the concessions that the Directorate will surely extract from us, as long as it means that a peace deal is signed and they can sell that accomplishment back home.
This world used to be a communist stronghold, but the most fervent supporters have joined the red lion at Gersemi. Moreover, the fact that this party has left the Communist Coalition that Alparslan Batur leads has not helped its popularity either. Ultimately, the biggest factor is that the population has been trending towards more conservative beliefs, which has boosted the popularity of the Gallant Gentlemen party by quite a bit in recent years
Main Negotiating Points:
Most of the conservative aims for this peace summit are to either achieve a peace treaty, regardless of the cost, or to ensure some form of autonomy or Independence from the Earth Directorate government. They will prioritize these goals over the economic protections most other liberal parties would prioritize, so I am not sure you will be able to get them on board, as well as any more liberal parties
This planet used to be solidly represented by the Syndicalist party, but like other planets, war weariness has grown down the population to more moderate and conservative positions. Ultimately, the planet has settled into a deadlock between liberal and conservative parties, so more progressive and liberal policies still often win out. The populace doesn't necessarily support the war at any cost, but they are certainly more open to us trying to argue for better terms and conditions.
Main Negotiating Points:
Unfortunately, the prominence of the syndicalist party on the planet will work against you. Both the social democrats and the Anti-Monopolists will assume any deal you are making is to the benefit of the local syndicalist party. You may be able to get them on board, but you will definitely have to sacrifice several concessions, and ultimately, I don't think you will be able to deliver on all terms that you will have to promise them. You might be able to win the votes on this planet, but you will have probably have to win over the social democrat party as a whole, and that will be much more difficult, considering they are our rival party in this alliance.
This planet has always been far more conservative than other members in our alliance. Strangely enough, I think the war has made them more progressive, with the anarchist's gaining a significant share of the vote, and helping to push more progressive policies. Very recently, the Gallant Gentlemen party has established themselves on this planet and stolen a significant shar of the vote, and most politics today seem to be combine efforts from both the anarchists and the Parliamentarians to try and curb their influence.
Main Negotiating Points:
Ultimately, you will need to convince the eco-parliamentarians. You know as well as I do that the anarchists have an extremely similar foreign policy to your syndicalist party, so they should take very little convincing. Unfortunately, the eco-parliamentarians will insist on changes to how the SRA council functions for their support of your diplomatic strategy. I know you hate their ideas, and how they 'complicate politics needlessly, and enshrine a permanent political class' but this is something they won't back down from. You will need to support their attempts to reform how the SRA council works if you want their vote, and unfortunately, I believe this is one of the easier planets to convince.
This planet has always been very solidly supporting the social democrats. However, recently, the population has started to support more progressive parties, including the Unionists. Moreover, the Cosmos Custodians have been gaining ground, representing the very real fact that that cult is getting more and more popular. While the social democrats are in no danger of becoming a small player on the planet, they have had to start sharing power with other parties, and either passing more progressive legislation, or caving to terraforming demands from the ecologist cult.
Main Negotiating Points:
As our main political rival in the SRA, it is fairly clear that they are the most popular political party in our alliance as of this time. They will want more recognition of that in any deal we negotiate with them, and almost inevitably, they will try to drive what terms we will pass. Unfortunately, the Social Democrats are far too moderate for your suggestions about arguing for more extreme peace concessions. You will almost certainly have to give plenty of concessions in other areas. I already know that they will demand your support for establishing a singular leadership position (like president or prime minister), and that they will demand your vote for first leader. And this is the low end of what they will demand, so you better have some ideas about how to get them to play ball.
pg 2: Political Party Summary
Syndicalist Democrats:
your party. Progressive, and emphasizes social reforms and support, with many economic safeguards. I do think you can wing almost anything by your party, but I do think they are at least hoping you will try to argue for some terms with economic protections. Otherwise, your party is one of the more important ones in the SRA, although they have suffered many recent setbacks. (No, things are not 'just fine' like you always tell everyone. Perhaps you should work on the fact that you lost significant voter shares on 2 planets?)
Social Democrats
Perhaps the most important party in the SRA, as much as you syndicalists don't want to admit it. Your rivals have maintained control 2 planets, and also have significant influence in Perdition. They have been arguing for more liberal policies normally, although they still do stick by the essential worker protections and economic controls that most of us insist on. Unfortunately, if you insist on working with them, I believe you will need to suck up your pride, which is impossible for you.
Gallant Gentlemen
An extremely new party, it was started by Elliot Pearson after he was chased off the first world he initially rebelled on. He has quickly built a political base throughout the SRA. I would say his faction is more conservative, but they also tend to have the most mercurial principles. To be honest, looking at history, they are the easiest party to get support from, but I fear you will end up with something that other parties might not accept if you explicitly appeal to them.
Eco-Parliamentarians:
This party is a fairly progressive party, but they also have pretty strict ambitions for what procedural rules we should be forming the foundation of the SRA out of, going forward. I know its quite different than the more decentralized and anarchic model you and many other progressive parties argue for, but that is the only concessions I believe they will accept in order to support your terms. Luckily, their dominance in Kurdalægon politics means that they can basically deliver that planet's vote for you, so I do think its well worth courting them. It will just mean making some painful concessions.
Technocrat Republicans:
my party; fairly progressive as well, though no one would know it with how you yell at us regularly on the council floor. Ultimately, we represent an alternative prioritization structure, with more emphasis on technological advances (and espionage) rather than just strict social programs. I do think the our party, as well as other ecological parties does point to a desire throughout the SRA for technological solutions, rather than
Anti-monopolist conservatives:
an influential conservative party, while they don't hold the majority on any planet, there influence in local politics on the 2 planets where they are major political players is not insignificant. Unfortunately, it will be fairly hard to appeal to this faction, as they would probably demand a number of conservative concessions in order to get on board, and it is precisely those terms which would also chase off many other parties. Unfortunately, I think they will demand far too much, considering that they cannot deliver a single vote on their own.
Moderate Unionists
I know you loathe this party, and the moderates that split off to form it, but I hope you understand that they will be by far the easiest faction to convince for you. They share far far too many of your beliefs and goals. They only really differ with how willing they are to compromise. I will say this again, but you need to get over the fact that these people broke away from you syndicalists to form their own faction. You need to understand that these people could probably be your greatest allies, especially in this endeavor.
Reformist Parliamentarians:
On paper, these people only care about procedural rules about how government is run. That is what they push during elections, and that is what they will probably demand in any treaty. However, most of the people who join this faction have a more conservative bent, so you might be able to get their support by trying to negotiate for some more conservative trade terms.
Anarchist Assembly:
Ultimately, this groups concerns are also about procedural rules, and concerns about how centralized the SRA will remain/become after the war ends, and any true confederation government is formed. Fortunately, their political aims largely match our own, so I don't think you will need to do too much to court their vote. Just be careful not to insult them like the last time you talked to them. I know there are still several members who did not appreciate your 'jokes' at their expense.
Cosmos Custodians:
Honestly, this is the one group that I can't get a handle on. They are largely an outgrowth of a popular Anansi cult, but they quite often don't have solid policy goals. Their biggest priority seems to be 'less destructive' terraforming practices, and 'respecting the celestial bodies', but I'm not even sure how we'd start negotiating for such terms as part of the peace deal, much less guarantee to get such terms for this party. For all intents and purposes, I think you should view this party as a wildcard.
Faraji continued, "Listen, almost all of these worlds have reasons to reject these proposals on their own, and there is no one who is in a real position to try and go all in. Moderate this so that we can actually get something passed, and end this war surviving and actually getting something out of all this."
"No."
"NO! NO you want to work on an impossibility! You want to doom us Fucking All! Well I'd like to leave a Peaceful bloody world for my bloody daughter!"
Rep. Huiliang took a long moment, allowing both of them to calm down, before responding, "First, I think you are forgetting that this is supposed to be the 'Socialist Revolutionary Alliance'. We are supposed to uphold the principles of the syndicalists and Socialists that freed this entire sector of space. Those revolutionaries aren't here because they kept fighting. Because They believed in the cause, believed that we would uphold their cause.
And let us be honest here, you can talk all you want about your hesitation, but the real politics are in our favor. The Earth Directorate wants to end this war now. Half of the political groups you mentioned will also want to conclude talks quickly, precisely because they are afraid! And what happens when we are willing to stand our ground. And I'm not just talking about them making concessions-"
"Wu Huiliang, Are you really betting on how much we will gain by being assholes-"
"You want to know what happens when we stake our ground, and don't move! You know what they will see. They'll see the directorate panic, and they'll realize that we can win this. We can finally put an end to all of it, and make sure that all the sacrifices were worth it! We'll finally be able to fix it all, but we HAVE! TO! HOLD!"
Faraji could only close his head and silently scream in frustration. It was clear that Wu Huiliang wasn't going to see reason. Hell, it seemed his friend had half convinced himself they didn't even need peace to begin with.
420 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Greater Communist Coalition: Alparslan Batur
The red lion chuckled to himself, as he saw the troop carriers descend. He knew Admiral Cunningham would inevitably fail to see reason. He would continue the attack by conventional means, regardless of the losses. His pride would force him to.
Although if 'crafty' Cunningham believed that cloud cover would be enough to hide his approach, he had another thing coming. Cunningham was clearly still not used to commanding such a large and diverse force, and it would be the red lion's great pleasure to remind him why the Red Lion was so feared across the stars.
As Cunningham's infantry transports advanced in utterly predictable approach vectors, Commander Batur responded with gifts of lead and steel.
He watched with pleasure, as the grey sky erupted in the colors of violence and death. It was clear that the 1 million soldiers Cunningham had initially committed in this wave to establish a beach head would not be enough.
In fact, it seemed like Cunningham didn't even have the proper discipline of all his ship captains. He could already see a few frigates and monitors moving to low orbit to provide covering fire. It was such a welcome sight to see the enemy fleet move within range of the orbital guns at Hœnir. It seemed like the old veterans there were just about to rack up some ship kills.
Commander Alparslan Batur grinned. Everything was going to plan. The Communist Coalition would win this gamble.
49 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Skipspace:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Directorate Military: Admiral Ajit Bhat of the Reformed 4th Directorate Fleet
Senator Kanika Aguda eyed the the closed conference room door, projecting her paranoia about the corporate Liaison and Mercenary General listening in. However, she was broken out of her reverie by Admiral Bhat, "Our guests have returned to their quarters, and I have ensured that all my guards can be trusted, senator. So do you mind explaining to me why we just made your entrance a bloody spectacle? I love a good prank on our corporate overlords as the next guy, but I am not sure what any of us gain with these games."
Admiral Bhat glanced at his strategist, Lafiza Khalil, but it was clear she didn't have any answers. Instead, the senator decided to come clean, "I needed to know what their plans were for the SRA homeworlds. Surprise is a good way of inciting an honest reaction, and I needed that in order to read them."
Strategist Khalil interrupted, "Excuse me senator, but what exactly did you need to know. I used to be a corporate sales analyst for Tsai Shen inc., so its pretty clear what they want here. They want what they always want. A recoup of their investment. They are going to take ownership of all the factories and any salvage they find and they will make a profit on all of it. I've heard too many people talking about how now would be perfect investment opportunity"
Admiral Bhat even chipped in, "I have to agree that these dogs are easy to predict. They are just looking for more loot."
"And isn't that the problem?", Senator Aguda responded, "They don't care about the truly enormous scale of what we could lose here. I don't think they even care about our success in particular, but the more important problem is the fact that we absolutely need to resolve this war as quickly as possible, and conserve our resources for out emergency.
Its already quite obvious that the interstellar economy is in shambles with 80% percent of the skipgate network offline, for one reason or another. While we will be able to cover some of the lost trade using long range freighters, the fact of the matter is that our economy was built on continuous and quick trade and travel between all our planets, not infrequent, months-long freighter voyages which are extremely constricted by freighter supply. If it weren't for the fact that we had transitioned to a war economy years ago, and froze stock trades, we would be seeing the greatest economic depression in the history of mankind."
Admiral Bhat decided to interject, clearly confused by the senator's distress, "Senator Aguda, surely things are not as bad as you are describing? I understand that the skipgate blackout has been crippling, but I'm sure we will be able to rebuild as soon as we finish this war"
Senator Aguda responded immediately, "I don't think you understand just how crippling our current travel restrictions are under the blackout, admiral. We have a full 20% of systems that are experiencing almost non-existent shipping or travel in or out of their systems. Let me repeat that, More than a quarter of human space is seeing less that 3 freight ships in and out of the system per year. For all intents and purposes these sectors, and several other worlds in similar situations, may as well be cut off from the wider galaxy. We may boast millions of ground soldiers garrisoned across that stars, but they will be unable to do anything, even get proper food and ammunition, much more functioning effectively in the case of a revolt.
Admiral, these people need our help. They need our ships, and they need them yesterday. In order to fix the black out, we need to finish this war, and get all our long range ships to re-secure trade and travel to the cut off regions. "
Admiral Bhat had a quizzical look on his face as he asked, "If that is the case, why wouldn't these corporatist stooges be working as hard as we are in securing a peace deal. Surely they would want to trade and travel to be resuming just as much as the Directorate does?"
Senator Aguda had a pained look on her face. It really was clear that the admiral was not familiar with how these people worked.
She could only grimace and the task ahead of her. She explained, "Its because of who they are that I am worried, Admiral. Perhaps this would work best if I explain a little bit about the background and recent exploits of our corporate 'friends'. First, I want you to consider Infantry High General, Zou Li. His most recent command operation was the scout & secure mission in the neighboring Ether Sector. Do you know what he found?
A military junta which had displaced the local Amaterasu Holdings Board. Apparently, Garrison General Petya Borisov alleged that the Amaterasu Holdings board had attempted to commit some sort of human rights crime by either withholding food or some other necessary supplies. General Borisov had taken control of the sector and completely removed the Amaterasu Holdings board, which may have been warranted, but is extremely suspicious without any warrant or judicial oversight. Regardless of the exact legality of his initial actions, it seems like General Borisov was willing to surrender to General Li after the latter had landed on the planet, and be subject to a military tribunal on Earth.
Instead, General Li cited the Udenesi act of 2131[1], which specified that human rights had to either be guaranteed by Earth Directorate citizenship, which can only be maintained by proper payment of Earth Directorate Passport taxes, or by special exemption through employment by approved corporations, which are determined by the Department of Corporate outreach. He said, due to the fact that no citizen in the sector had paid taxes, or could be employed by a defunct company, they were not be covered by the Earth Directorate bill of rights, including the right to a peer trial with representation. Instead, he determined that all inhabitants in the sector were seditious elements and a danger to humanity, and killed all of them, including the surrendering General Borisov"
"What the hell!" "What kind of bastard-"
Both military officers paused for a moment, before Sergeant Khalil continued, "First off, that law was never supposed to be used that way. Its only supposed to be an old defunct law meant to encourage tax payments, not excuse military executions. For that matter, what kind of message does it send when we execute every single surrendering soldier, instead of just capturing them and possible sentencing them for life! This.. This has to be unlawful"
Admiral Baht spoke softly, "I have little to add, except that a monster like him should be nowhere near an operation like this. No commander should be allowed to continue after such an atrocity"
"Unfortunately, the senate doesn't agree with you. Too many corporations agree with General Li's approach of shoot first, ask questions never. The attitude back home from too many corporations and executives is fear that the revolution might destroy them, so they must take extreme measures. The now dozens of high profile corporations which have gone bankrupt or defunct due to the many uprisings have convinced them to adopt extremist measures, even when completely unnecessary."
The admiral's questions seemed sated, as he responded, "So they are more out for blood, rather than solutions. And in their tunnel-vision, they may end the directorate. That makes sense."
However, it was clear his sergeant still had question. She had had this intense look of contemplation, and her brow had just furrowed further with the senator's answer.
Finally, sergeant Khalil vocalized her concerns, "So the infantry general is a bloodthirsty idiot, who defaults to violence as the solution, and simply doesn't believe in peaceful solutions. That is extremely nice to know, and I understand now why he would never work with us, no matter what we told him. However, I have to ask about the corporate Liaison, Mrs. Ilina. I have a vague understanding that she is politically savvy, but I fail to understand why she wouldn't be working with us on this. Wasn't she against General Li's plan of utter destruction?
The way you are speaking.... It makes me feel like you are more afraid of what she can do rather than General Li."
"Huh, you picked up on that, Sergeant Khalil. Yes, she is the more dangerous of the two, and I am certain she won't be working with us on this endeavor." Senator Aguda answered.
Both military officers had now directed their gaze directly at the senator, as she continued, "She is an opportunist who will turn the current situation to her advantage, rather than trying to improve the actual circumstances for the Earth Directorate.
There are some stories about her first posting to the Hyacinth system. If I remember correctly, there were still several local pirate and smuggling gangs, who had developed after the damage left in the 5th corporate war. The local Admiral and General were both intent on major operations to flush the system of such hostile elements, and the governor was giving his full support.
And the Mrs. Ilina arrived, working for the local branch of the Taranis Corporation, and she started 'investigating' the situation. She started privately sharing her 'findings' with the admiral, general and governor.... separately. Apparently, she was able to reveal evidence that one of them was a traitor. I don't know much about specifics, but she was able to successfully sow discord and dissension there. Instead of a major military operation, all sides began to expand their personal military departments, and buy excessive amounts of military hardware from Taranis Inc."
Admiral Bhat seemed to be shaking, "Hyacinth is a system of tens of billions of people... Please don't tell me...."
Senator Aguda could only sigh, before responding, "Yes, Admiral. your fears are correct. Three months before this war started, apparently someone attempted to arrest the local admiral for treason, but they were unsuccessful. Then, a few hours later there was an explosion at the governor's mansion, and I believe that the commander of the governor's guard declared martial law on the capital planet of sunflower. They've been mostly cut off since the skip gate blackout, which has just exacerbated matters, but overall, it seems like there is a three sided war in the system over who is the true traitor and who isn't.
And of course, Taranis has expanded its local industry several times over in order to support every side of the conflict, including the local pirate kings who are taking advantage of the chaos. The corporations have effectively broken up a united Earth Directorate system into its 5 habitable planets, which are now being fought over between several different warlords.
Mrs. Illina came into a tense situation and twisted in to profit her employers; twisted it to profit corporations. And at no point did any of this help the Earth Directorate."
Both officers were shocked, but it was Strategist Khalil who regained her composure first, and asked a question, "So if I understand you correctly, Senator, you are saying that she will twist the situation to lead to further conflict that the corporations can profit from? ... This was certainly something I was afraid of, but I didn't think they would send anyone stupid enough to have that aim"
"Sergeant.... Admiral, I think you are misunderstanding the scope of the problem. The blackout has fractured the Earth Directorate. A 1/5 of human planets are still basically cut off, and we don't really know what is happening with them. Another 3/5 are still experiencing trade bottlenecks, due to their skip gates still being non-functional. The earth directorate isn't in solid control of most human space, and is entirely reliant on local leaders, who have taken up enormous authority to ensure the safety and prosperity of their local systems. and hopefully, they all have the best of intentions... but power corrupts.
Most of human space is waiting for the Directorate to return. They are waiting for use to reconnect the empire back together, and resume trade and travel, and quite honestly, the only way we will ever be able to do that in the short term is with the ships in our fleet. They aren't supposed to be freighters, but until we have fixed the network, and repaired or replaced all the broken broken skip gates, they will be a sufficient temporary solution."
The admiral had a blank look on his face, as he asked, "And so what happens if we waste time fighting this war? What happens if we waste more time in this damnable conflict, Senator?"
There was a long pregnant pause, before the Senator continued, "Our analysts believes there is a significant chance of a few regions seceding if we fight here. We have already identified a few leaders who are waiting to declare their independence, so that they can become the dominant warlords in the local area. Of course, we aren't afraid of just a few bad apples. The 5th fleet will be able to handle a few would be dictators.
No, what we are afraid of is if we have a mass secession event. Already, many cut off planets are losing their faith in the directorate, and what I fear is that many planets go independent, just to protect themselves. Already, Mrs. Ilina has shown just how profitable it can be to turn warlords against each other, and I can't help but think that the corporations may just attempt to replicate those results but at a much wider scale."
Admiral Bhat was the first to respond, "You are talking about those damn corporations trying to make the Directorate Fail. To make human civilization break apart, as we split into squabbling barbarians fighting amongst the stars."
"Yes admiral, that is exactly what I am saying, which is why we will need to work together and-"
Sergeant Khalil interjected, "Are you sure that the corporations want the Directorate to fall apart? There is plenty of money to made from civilian trade, that can only come from a unified empire... and its far more safe investment. You don't need to worry about errant warlords failing to pay you."
Senator Aguda accepted the question. It was clear the strategist was wrapping her head around the possibility that the Directorate could fall part within her lifetime. It was a difficult thing to accept... but it was a necessary thing to understand in order to combat the coming crisis. The senator finally answered, cutting through the tense silence, "You are right, there is more money to be made from a united empire.... but I don't think the corporations believe that is a feasible possibility. With all the recent wars, I believe they are trying to hedge their bets with entities they an work with, instead of these socialist rebels. They want warlords, not anti-corporatist communes.
That, and I've learned the painful lesson to never underestimate your enemies, and their ambition, sergeant Khalil."
The strategist nodded numbly, taking all the information in, while the old admiral's eyes narrowed, as he asked, "So the fate of the Directorate stands upon our shoulders. What exactly are we going to do to ensure these fuckers don't get what they want?"
The senator could only smile at the decisive response of the admiral, "We do have a plan, fortunately. We need to gain peace quickly, but we also must emphasize that the directorate still stands strong. Any potential warlord, or corporate instigator needs to understand that the Directorate still maintains the military force necessary to keep the Directorate together.
We need a quick and decisive diplomatic treaty. We must not wait for the 5th fleet; We need to show each remaining fleet has the strength to work independently, despite what 'rumors' they may hear. However, if the corporations are having trouble subverting these rebels, we should perhaps make sure to turn these freedom fighters into a potent counterweight for corporate influence. We need to make sure that the rebels receive a series of concessions to maintain their power, including..."
It would be several hours afterwards, extremely late into the night, when the three members of the reformist faction finally went to bed.
1. The Udenesi Act of 2131 was a special Earth Directorate Law, which was passed after the tax dodge crisis of 2130. While there were several causes for this crisis, the government chose a hard-handed approach, hiding away welfare benefits and other guaranteed rights and amenities behind taxes, and yearly citizenship documentation requirements. While this did greatly reduce the amount of tax dodging, this 'common sense' law also led to the (unintended?) extermination of much of the homeless population, which never really had the tools available to even properly fill out the citizenship documentation requirements. It would only be in 2140 that citizenship requirements would be relaxed and exceptions would be introduced for situations where filling out the proper paperwork was difficult.
209 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Peloponnese system:
Battle of Gersemi
New Deal Coalition: Admiral Pan Seulgi
Admiral Pan Seulgi paced back and forth within her quarters. The evacuation of the outpost of New Malta was going smoothly, just as the evacuations at the outposts of New Corinth and New Cyrenaica had gone. Fortunately, it appeared as if they wouldn't have to make any hard decisions here, like they had had to on Demeter. Hard decisions only had to be made on Demeter because of your poor leadership! These other planets at least had proper commanders organizing them!
Still, it was becoming quite obvious that the New Deal Coalition Fleet was utterly unprepared for the post-war period. They were carrying too many people. They had too few supply ships. There would be almost no friendly ports after the Earth Directorate declared this war was over.
She looked over the latest census, paired with reports from the fleet's support vessels... They were all going to starve. Sure, they had enough supplies to last for 6 months, but after that they would need to be self-sufficient, and that just wasn't going to happen. So you made empty promises. How is that any different that what you normally do?
Had she made a promise to protect all these people, only to lead them to a painful death by starvation? You always were going to lead these people to their doom. That is what you do! You Fail Them!
no, no! NO! NO! NO! DO YOU FINALLY GET IT!
Admiral Seulgi desperately searched for something else to focus instead OF THIS SCREW UP! SHE SHOULD NEVER HAVE PROMISED THIS! THIS WAS NOT HER GAMBLE TO MAKE! IT- STOP HIDING FROM THE FACT THAT YOU ARE KILLING PEOPLE! THESE PEOPLE WILL DIE AND ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!
and then she saw it, the latest reports from the secret stealthed scout ship still in the Freyja system. It appeared as if Gersemi was holding. In fact, it appeared that the Red Lion was suffering quite a few unprecedented successes.... again.
It was quite apparent that the communists had bought her time. And with that time.... Once again, gliding by with the luck providing by others. You won't even learn anything this time, will you?
They still had a few friends on the planet of Hestia[1]. She knew she would have to burn quite a few of their favors, but if she could pull it off, right under the Earth directorate's nose, she might be able to ensure the continued safety of her people.
She just needed the lion to delay victory for a year more, and she might be able to save everyone this time. DO NOT LIE TO YOURSELF!
1. While no planet is truly neutral in the corporate wars, there were several sympathetic planets which would often refuse to engage with revolutionary fleets. While these planets remained nominally under Directorate control, they would often function as neutral ports, providing services to both sides, and refusing to engage any faction militarily. While many corporations would repeatedly try to crack down on this behavior, often populist leaders would threaten to rise in open revolt unless the planet took a more neutral stance.
183 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Greater Communist Coalition: Alparslan Batur
The Former Turkish engineer looked over the map.... with a smirk on his face. Admiral Cunningham did not know how to fight a ground war. Clearing the travel vectors as crucial advice that every directorate admiral learned for space warfare, ever since the great ship battle at Arawelo[1]. However, they weren't fighting in space, where you could hide debris and traps in the cold void of space. No, they were bloody fighting on the ground, where using artillery to clear your travel path only let your enemy know where you were. The red lion was only too happy to punish such mistakes.
Of course, there were other ways to deal with traps, if you were patient or prepared, or just plain clever. But Admiral Cunningham was not a ground general. so he would resort to what he knew.
alarms blared, and the base was bathed in a flashing red, as Directorate ships once again entered the low orbitals of Gersemi. Admiral Cunningham had once again taken the bait. But this time, he had decided to bring his heavy frigates for the orbital bombardment.
The red lion gave the order. Finally, the hidden weapons at New Copenhagen were given permission to fire. Alparslan watched as first, the highly targeted ordinance hit the very rear of the lowest frigate, before said ship buckled and blossomed into a bright red fireball. and then he smiled as the sky began to fill with more of these roses of death.
1. In the battle of Arawelo, the red lion was able to defeat the 9th fleet, after sacrificing his 2 largest ships (a pair of heavy frigates). After the 2 ships were lost, the red lion feigned his retreat, and made Admiral Sullivan (of the 9th fleet) follow him, past the wreckage of the heavy frigates. Unfortunately, the red lion had seeded the area around the disabled sheets with mines, and when the 9th fleet passed by this area, he activated these bombs. Ever since then, Earth Directorate Admirals have learned the important lesson of "clearing the travel vectors" or more plainly, to make sure the area you are traveling through is cleared and doesn't have any hidden mines or bombs.
183 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Directorate Military: Admiral Cunningham, Commander of the Massive Directorate 5th Fleet
WHAT THE HELL! WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON!
50 warships. not troop carriers, but proper warships. Lost to bloody ground fire! What the hell was going on! He had just lost more than 5% of his war fleet!
Finally, one of his staff officers returned with a collection of recordings. He reviewed the footage of the first frigate to go down, the EDS Jackson. Of course, The Jackson had been one of the new Class Montgomery frigates that had been specifically built for this expedition. The ship was less than 2 years old, with completely new defensive plating that should've rendered it resistant to orbital artillery.
No, he knew his orbital canon ordinance. It was notoriously difficult to shells into high atmosphere, and often mass was sacrificed for the necessary height. This shell had to be a couple magnitudes smaller than the common naval ordinance his frigates were used to.
And yet, as he watched the footage, he saw the small shell come in a mere 100 meters from back edge, right at the ships engines, and punch a hole right through the armor like it wasn't even there. He rewound the video as he watched the shell hit the armor... and slide up for a split second before..... breaching a seam?!?!
After quickly reviewing the frigate schematics. He wanted to throttle someone. Who the hell skimps on structural supports on Engine mounts! It was goddamn luck that it had only affected the efficacy of their armor and....
Damn! It wasn't just on the frigate! They had used this structural support system on all the new ships. Hell, even the new frigates, monitors and corvettes had this weakness. Hell, even while reviewing the schematics of his flagship, a Super-Dreadnought, he could see the ghosts of this issue, although it thankfully looked like the super-dreadnought had gone with a slightly better structural design.
Still, that damn commie fox has somehow found a way to force every new ship design of the Earth Directorate to have the same bloody flaw, and now he was threatening the last, best fleet of humanity with some piddly orbital cannons because of it. He had to figure a way to solve the mess that a bunch of idiot designers from back home had just given him!
...
The answer was as obvious as it was stupid. If he didn't want the fox to keep sinking his ships, yet still allow his ships to enter the low planet orbitals, he just needed to make sure that they couldn't reach the ship weak points. In this case, if meant keeping the ships pointed down. But that introduced other problems. First, it greatly limited the amount of firepower which he could bring to bear against the idiots on the surface. That was a regrettable, but workable downside.
The far more insidious problem is that he would have no way to prevent his ships from descending into lower orbitals (or even just crashing into the planet), because there main engines would be pointed in the exact wrong direction. And make no doubt about it, if there was a trap the red lion could exploit, he would absolutely do so.
No, the admiral needed to figure out a way to keep control of his ships. A way to evade the communists' inevitable trap. He needed a way to keep control of the situation. He looked again at his resources and decided....
There was a solution. A damn stupid solution, but a solution. He would need to use tugs to help keep the ships from plummeting to the surface.
BLOODY ASTEROID TUGS! FOR FULLY FUNCTIONING SHIPS!
When he was done here, he would strangle the designer that had caused this whole armor debacle!
138 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Greater Communist Coalition: Alparslan Batur
The red lion could only smirk as he looked up at the Earth Directorate fleet. The silly little ships were pointed down, as he had predicted. Admiral Cunningham did know how to fight in space, and was flexible enough to adapt to red lion's challenge.
Still, he couldn't think of a funnier sight than the largest earth directorate fleet amassed in history, all arranged in orbit, and pointing straight down at a planet.. and yet each ship also looked like they were being held up by 2 thin strings being pulled up by gnats. The most powerful fleet in history, being forced to appear broken and powerless, and needing tugs to do anything.
It was a hilarious image, to see the whole 5th fleet look like it was about to fall out of the sky. Alparslan couldn't believe his plan was already going well.
While the admiral had worried and fretted about his plan, he let his ground offensive falter. The red lion looked at the map with grim satisfaction, noting that the entire province of Danegeld had been liberated, and they were whittling down the forces in Vanaheim. All in all, they were making good progress on reducing the Earth Directorate forces, even before he had finished enacting his plan.
Still, while the ship reorientation had cut down significantly on the amount of orbital fire the Directorate could bring to bear to the surface of Gersemi, the fact was that the communist coalition was still suffering far too many casualties. At this rate, as long as Admiral Cunningham stayed patient, he would be able to wear down the communist forces.
So he waited for the next step of his plan to reveal itself. It was frustrating having to wait, but he knew he could trust his troops to do what needed to be done.
Ever since the Siege of New Washington in 2190[1], it has been military common knowledge that ground-to-space defenses are simply too ineffective to be worth the investment. Again and again, fleets and orbiting space based defenses have proven to be a far more effective investments for defensive measures. From the first battle of Mars, to the recent battle of Dionysus[2], there is no end to the evidence against developing ground based defenses.
First, one must consider the difficulty in getting any armaments into space. The fact of the matter is that most cannons or missiles must minimize the size of their payloads, just to help get their rounds into orbit. Compared to their space-based counterparts, all ground-based missiles and cannons have noticeably smaller payloads. In addition, ground-to-space based weapons have historically had timing problems. Even the quickest of guns have traditionally taken seconds to exit the atmosphere, and normal weaponry gives enough time for most ships to successfully take evasive maneuvers.
Second, one must consider the difficulties in design. Unlike purely naval designs, ground-to-space designs must contend with environmental corrosion, and must design around the fact that they will be used in an open-air environment instead of the void of space. Many naval designs were considered to be significantly easier to design, and even now, its takes serious time and effort to convert space-based weapon designs to ground-to-space variants. This has led to an extremely limited pool of available design that can be used for ground-to-space combat, and significantly easier to predict limitations by enemy forces.
These disadvantages can be seen in the second Corporate war, during the siege of Vermillion in 2280...
....
By the period of the corporate wars, the most modern ground-to-space weapon designs were over 50 years old, and were laughably out of date. The dismissal of such weapons had stunted weapon design in the field, and most available arms of the time were archaic missile and cannon designs, that used more modern ammunition, when possible. Unfortunately, ground-to-space weaponry was so dismissed, it was not even considered profitable to make atmosphere compatible/resistant designs of space naval weaponry. Therefore, even the more modern laser and railgun designs of that time failed to be available for ground defenses, and those advancements were kept solely for space combat. The whole thing was a self-fulfilling spiral, with ground based defense falling further and further behind, until the corporate wars.
The tactics of the Red lion in the battle of Gersemi have reinvigorated the development of ground-to-space warfare tactics. The red lion was able to prove, even with subpar weapons, that a modern fleet could be significantly damaged by ground based fire. In an interesting turn of events, it has been corporate defenses that have seen the most innovations in this area, as these are one of the few institutions that are seeing a significant increase in investment after the battle of Gersemi. Already, many new designs are being proposed and implemented across the entirety of known space, with many Garrison generals proclaiming a new era of 'defensive warfare'. Of course, this theory of warfare directly contradicts the mainstream ideologies of Burton-Hansen doctrines[3], which proclaim that all space warfare must be offensive warfare.
The new 'defensive warfare' doctrine theorizes that...
...
Ultimately, the most promising of the new ground-to-space based weapon systems are Mass Drivers. While still in the experimental stages, most mass drivers are illustrating the potential to get around most of the common downsides of ground based weaponry. Mass drivers have the potential to fire large rounds at supersonic speeds, which can reach orbiting targets within a couple deciseconds. While the power requirements are still far too massive, and often require the entire power output of developed colonial worlds, their is significant research going into making these weapons far more viable on less developed worlds. Many theorists are predicting that naval bombardment of ground based targets might become an impossibility within 50 years, and ...
- The new face of war! Developments of military technologies and tactics through the corporate wars, by Alexander Michelson
1. The first large Ground battle in the 1st interstellar civil war, when military forces aligned with general Firat captured Mars. The Siege of New Washington was the first ground battle in which the Earth Directorate attempted to take back New Washington, but failed due to the naval support the rebels had. Despite using the most advanced ground-to-space defense systems, and facing a 50 year old fleet on the verge of decommission, they were unable to overcome naval support in order to mount a proper siege. It would only be after the 2nd Earth Directorate fleet secured the system that they would be able to successfully siege the capital of Mars
2. A battle during the most recent corporate war, in which the planetary military fortress of Dionysus was easily captured by the Syndicalist Miners Communion, which used their proto-carrier designs to enact a successful siege on the planet. Modern ground-to-space defenses were unable to cope with the large number of small, lightly armored proto-fighter designs
3. The Burton Hansen Doctrine was a theoretical space fighting doctrine coined by Steve Burton and Alexander Hansen in 2092, which theorized that defensive warfare was close to impossible, due to the 3D nature of space. It argued that skip jumps (the theoretical foundations of which had recently been proven) would enable offensive forces to jump directly to the orbit of a planet, and that well aimed skip jumps could see offensive forces jumping to positions to immediately begin orbital bombardment. This doctrine has largely become more and more irrelevant with the large
114 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Directorate Military: Admiral Cunningham, Commander of the Massive Directorate 5th Fleet
Admiral Cunningham looked dumbfoundedly at the large spreading ash cloud that had sprouted upon the planet.
What the hell was going on! Was the planet even trying to protect those stupid children! What were the chances of a bloody super-eruption striking the planet now!
Now his ships were floating uselessly in orbit, without enough data to fire accurately. Even worse, he was seeing some electrical interference, especially from the units nearest to the eruption site. He could already foresee the red lion planting ambushes and whittling down his forces. His analysts were already predicting that this freak natural disaster could delay eradication plans by up to 2 years.
...
in fact, with the smoke cover, electromagnetic interference, and the bloody diffused heat cover, all caused by the ongoing eruption, the commander couldn't help but feel that the red lion wouldn't settle for this. Other commanders would try for more manageable goals, like delaying an overwhelming enemy. However, the red lion was not that. He was the undefeatable hero of the rebellion. He always had overcome the odds. And Cunningham couldn't help but feel in his gut that such a man would give up the lives of himself and his men just to waste time. No, the eruption was an opening, not only to defeat ground forces, but to somehow strike at the fleet itself.
"Order the frigates forward, back into the mid orbitals. I also want all our old monitor class vessels, all 15 of the Adams class vessels we have, in the mid-low orbital with minimal crew. All other ships are to remain in the high orbitals, and to keep a bloody eye out. The red lion has a surprise for us down there."
"Sir? What-"
"Staff officer Johnson, did I stutter? Give out the order. I think the red lion still has some surprises for our fleet. After all, he could've hidden some of his orbital cannons, or some other nefarious device.
We won't just sit by and wait to be struck down. Those old monitors are set to be decommissioned after this war anyways. We might as well use them to soak up whatever the enemy has in store for us. And if that isn't enough, the frigates will be right there to support, or to soak up more damage"
"Sir?! Are we sacrificing-"
"Of course we are! We must be decisive in this moment. We can't let those commies get the drop on us because we weren't willing to do what needed to be done."
He watched as his bridge got to work, and orders went out. Slowly but surely, his fleet reconfigured itself, and prepared for whatever surprise may come from the planet of Gersemi.
96 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Greater Communist Coalition: Alparslan Batur
"General Tinoco... no, Bernardo, my friend... You have your mission. Best of luck.... and thank you for your service."
"Of course sir! Its our pleasure to make the ultimate sacrifice! We will do the Communist Coalition proud. We will do the galaxy justice! We will defend humanity!"
"And the galaxy will thank you for it...", Alparslan responded weakly to his second. He knew what was about to happen. He knew just what he was sending half his army to do. And yet, it would be necessary, for this war. They were always going to have to make this sacrifice, ever since they decided to continue fighting the Earth Directorate. It was a necessary sacrifice. It was a well known sacrifice. And still, some part of him hated that he had just sent one of his remaining few friends to die.
Alparslan glanced between the report from the volcano team and the battle map. The volcano team had succeeded in inciting the eruption at the volcano just outside New Oslo, and had successfully changed the situation on the battlefield. They had even successfully ensured that the eruption and ash cloud would continue providing interference for the next few years, and made sure the new battlefield conditions wouldn't just be a temporary circumstance. The first few weeks under the ash clouds had been an unmitigated success, with over a million casualties dealt through ambushes or surprise attacks.
But the admiral had gotten impatient and had decided to commit to landing half his ground forces on the planet. And the red lion had been unable interdict the directorate landing craft because of the (ash) cloud cover he had initiated. And now he had 70 million enemies on the planet.
He was a great general, but even he had limits, especially when facing worse than 10000 to 1 odds. Still, he had accomplished his goals, and set up the board, and now the admiral was walking into his trap.
He watched as half his army 'revealed' themselves to the orbital fleet when crossing under a rare spot of clear sky. He saw the directorate ships still for a few minutes, before all the heaviest ships proceeded to the middle orbital, included the mega-dreadnought flagship, the EDS Salvation.
And he gave the order. on the opposite side of the planet, a barrage of small, cool stealth missiles raced into the atmosphere, and began their wide elliptical arc around the planet.
And the Red Lion spent the next hour listening to his friends and comrades wilt under orbital fire, as he waited for his secret weapon to finally reach its mark.
96 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Directorate Military: Admiral Cunningham, Commander of the Massive Directorate 5th Fleet
The first thing Admiral Cunningham hear was one of the tethers snap. He jerked his head up, and realized that one of the tugs attached to his flagship had been hit.
What the hell! They were supposed to be protected from orbital cannon fire. The monitors still hadn't reported any fire, much less damage. How the hell was the fox targeting the ships in the back, through his screening force and the bloody ash cloud?!
And yet, he watched in horror as missiles (Missiles! Goddammit, the lion had used the eruption to hide the heat signature of a bloody missile launch?!) began to hit the rears of his frigates and dreadnoughts, right in their weak spots.
And then, for a moment, Admiral Cunningham had the realization that the lion had been aiming for his fleet all along. That his gut feeling had been right.
And then his own ship, a mega-dreadnought[1], began to shake from missile explosions.
1. mega-dreadnoughts or super-dreadnoughts are the largest classification of ship ever produced by the Earth Directorate. More than doubling the size of a typical dreadnought, mega-dreadnoughts are theoretically built as singular ships meant to either delay or destroy fleets on their own. In reality, their performance falls far short of such lofty goals, and super-dreadnoughts typically barely perform twice as effectively as normal dreadnoughts, if that. Unfortunately, several problems with fire coverage, power distribution, armor coverage, and sensor coverage keep this design from reaching its theoretical limits, and it has been deemed a design that is several decades (if not centuries) ahead of its time. Until Technology catches up, mega-dreadnoughts will continue to fail their stated design goals.
The 5th fleet led by Admiral Cunningham represented the embodiment of Freeman Fleet Doctrine[1], which suggested overwhelming force focused in 1 or 2 offensive fleets, which would engage the enemy at positions they couldn't ignore and had to defend. Of course, the 5th fleet represented an incredible gathering of firepower, with over 500 warships flying under Cunningham's lead(more than 10 times the common fleet size). However, we must remind the reader that while Cunningham's fleet looked significantly overwhelming on paper, it had several significant flaws which don't show up on initial analysis. First, we must understand that most of the corvettes and monitors were built from converted civilian hulls, in order to massively quicken production. Almost all of these designs lacked the significant structural reinforcement that is common in military designs, and suffered from less structural integrity, as well as less firepower. Even of the pure military ships (frigates and dreadnoughts), most of these ships had to severely skimp on armor, donning 1/3 of the armor they were supposed to have. Moreover, all ship production had begun to rely on local materials and resources, and significantly weaker and less efficient alloys had to be used on most ships built during this war. The fact is, that the nightmarish logistical issues caused by the skipgate blackout caused significant issues in ship production, which ultimately resulted in Cunningham's actual navy being significantly weaker than the paper records suggests. While they certainly had the reported firepower of their paper records, in every other regard, the naval ships in the 5th fleet under performed their stated official specs.
However, the formation of the 5th fleet remains the largest congregation of any number of ships under 1 fleet command. This fleet had 5 times the normal amount of ships that any normal fleet was supposed to have, and it emphasized a doctrine of using overwhelming firepower to dominate the enemy in every fight. It was a direct response to the numerous defeats of the other Earth Directorate navies by Revolutionary Forces.
As Admiral Cunningham showed time and time again, he was able to employ the massive amounts of firepower to cripple the Revolutionary fleets. The Freeman fleet doctrine proved a suitable counter to the hit and run tactics which had been adopted by Cunningham's opponents. The fact is that while the 5th fleet was enormously outsized, and slow, it succeeded where other Earth Directorate fleets had failed.
- The new face of war! Developments of military technologies and tactics through the corporate wars, by Alexander Michelson
1. The freeman Doctrine was developed in 1971 by Jonathan Freeman for offensive surface fleets and suggested that instead of spreading out forces, the most efficient way to use one's naval resources was to gather one's ships into one or two fleets and punch through the establish front lines. While this doctrine was unpopular for the longest time, it found renewed interest after the onset of the corporate wars, where one of the most common complaints about earth directorate strategy was the spread of naval resources across too many systems. Eventually, the Freeman doctrine would become the popular military response, after the skipgate blackout revealed the true destructive capabilities of the revolutionary forces.
95 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Directorate Military: Admiral Cunningham, Commander of the Massive Directorate 5th Fleet
He perused through the damage reports again. Honestly, he couldn't believe it.
The red lion had completely floundered in this final battle. He had bet everything on clever strategies, and slick tricks, but now, his skillset had failed him. He had attempt to will himself to an impossible victory, and had ignored the common sense limitations in front of him.
Admiral Cunningham realized, as he continued to look through the damage reports, that the simple fact of the matter was that any ground to orbital weapons system would always have significant problems with payload. To escape the earth's atmosphere, significant amounts of energy had to be expended, and this only got worse with more and more mass, so most weapons cut back on the size of the ordinance.
Of course, earlier, the communist's cannons had barely been able to punch through the weak points on some of his ships, but missiles were always worse. They technically were supposed to be more fuel efficient, but there slow speed had always meant that there was an increased need for stealth. Which meant a lower heat signature... which meant less fuel. Which meant smaller payloads.
Of course, the red lion had attempted to use an n-ray Hybrid payload to circumvent this flaw, but all it had done was reduce his actual usable payload, without contributing any additional useful damage.
Sure, there was armor plating on most of his ships that was scorched or otherwise damaged, but ultimately, he hadn't actually done any concrete damage, excluding the 12 tugs and 4 light cutters. The red lion's final surprise had failed!
Of course, The communists had offered up most of his fighting force as bait in order to get his flagship in position. It would've been a worthwhile trade... if it had worked. Now however, the red lion was wounded, with his final surprise having failed him and having lost all hope. It was obvious that now was the time to end this. Their legacy would end here, and he would finally be able to crush the spirit of these silly little rebellions once and for all.
The red lion was about to die. And with him, would go these silly little temper tantrums of a revolt.
90 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Greater Communist Coalition: Alparslan Batur
The red lion looked over the casualty list one final time for the night. Most of his best friends had died at the bombardment at new Turku. Even Bernardo 'the immortal wrath' Tinoco had perished there. They were running so low on men. 3000 men simply was not enough to hold all their positions. They had to abandon several provinces wholesale, like Vanaheim.
And already, he had heard talk from his men about how they had wasted their forces... Morale... morale was not good, even if all the men would continue to fight to the last...
As he lost himself in his doubts, someone entered with the high density scans of the 5th fleet ships. He took a brief look-
"We were only able to get a good scan of 5 ships? I was hoping for more"
"Sir, we optimized our scans so that our sample would be most indicative with what had happened to most of the fleet. We couldn't do anything more, though. We simply didn't have enough observer stations set up before they invaded and-"
"No, I understand. Even I had hoped they would take longer to get to us. Return to your post and... relax... the next days will be especially hard fought, and you must take enjoyment when you can"
Commander Alparslan dimly heard the obligatory 'yes sir!' response, as he dug into the particulars of the report.
The notes about the armor damage.
The deep scans into the undamaged structural support.
The lack of evidence of any damage in the internal wiring or HVAC systems.
He flipped through page after page, checking damage on every type of ship, from the corvettes, to the mega-Dreadnought.
And then he got to the final conclusive page, that revealed what all his sacrifices had been for.
And all he could do is, from a deep ugly place, let out a hideous cackle.
and for several minutes on end, in the dark shadows of all his sacrifices, Commander Alparslan Batur, the ever famous red lion, would let out a grotesque, wheezing laugh...
The cracks had begun to show
The Red Lion, Alparslan Batur, has a somewhat varied reputation among the known galaxy. In the periphery, he is known as the betrayed hero, who could've won the war without losing a single soldier, if the other revolutionary parties/armies had just supported him wholeheartedly. Among other non-communist groups in the periphery, he is still often considered to be the greatest Anti-Corporate general to have ever lived.
However, he is not just a hero in the periphery. In the core, in the heart of corporate space, he could be described very differently. It would not be an understatement to say that he is the boogeyman of the Earth Directorate. So many core policies and doctrines have been developed precisely to stem tactics and strategies that the Red Lion pioneered. Ultimately, it could be said that the newest generation of the Earth Directorate Army and Navy has been built around the idea of fighting one man.
Of course, few men live up to such legacies, and Alparslan is no different. While a brilliant general, his strategies are not just achievements of the impossible. Quite often, they are reliant on Alparslan's forces doing the unthinkable, and suffering incredible sacrifices as a result. Alparslan is not special because he can defeat enemies like magic, but because he pioneered new ways to make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve the decisive victories he needed. He has sacrificed allies, fleets, and entire systems when those sacrifices could guarantee him victory in seemingly impossible conditions.
And yet, his willingness to sacrifice might have been his downfall. As contemporary New Deal Coalition General Larissa Zakharova noted, "He is a man who was willing to sacrifice, again and again and again, and it could only work for so long until he found himself with far too little to give up. He sold his soul in bits and pieces, and when the day came to earn the final victory, he had too little left of his own spirit for the devil to take a deal." Ultimately, while the Communist Coalition would continue to win battle after battle, by the end, Alparslan had to give up his fleet and most of his most destructive weaponry away for singular victories. Ultimately, his tactical victories could not outpace the strategic reality that he had never had had enough manpower or firepower to properly fight the Earth Directorate and survive.
...
Unfortunately, most of the recovered documentation paints a darker picture of the battle of Gersemi. Obviously, there are many recovered accounts which detail his deteriorating mental state during the battle, and many scholars suggest that the weight of all his sacrifices coming up to nothing finally caught up to him. Dr. Manuela Sanchez even suggests that Alparslan's willingness to take a battle on Gersemi, instead of evacuating suggests a hidden bout of megalomania, that many of his compatriots and allies missed. It is certainly an uncommon and unique theory, to believe the revolutionary hero was merely a lucky egomaniac that eventually had his time run out. However, it fails to understand the strategic picture, and how Alparslan was 'trapped' by his image. Many believed him to be truly invincible, and there were real and legitimate fears that the revolution would collapse if the common soldier heard about him running away, or even just being defeated decisively in battle. It was his reputation that the revolution hinged on, and in many ways it sealed his own doom, and the doom of the communist party he headed. While he had demanded other be sacrificed for the revolution in other circumstances, the battle of Gersemi demanded he sacrifice himself...
- The End of Imperialism, and the Leaders who fought it, by Faustine Belrose
72 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Greater Communist Coalition: Alparslan Batur
He could here the gunfire outside. He knew the last of the communist coalition die today.... including him.
He had known what he was sacrificing when he took this battle. so had all of his men. And now it was time to commit.
He knew the ideology would survive. The next generation would learn and take up the cause. But now, today... Freedom demanded its blood price... and It would always be worth it to sacrifice people for victory in this conflict.....
and yet, he refused to go without one last word. He had one last thing to say before this dreadful gamble came to a close for him.
He opened up all radio frequencies, for one last message. For one last scream into the void.
"I KNOW YOU ALL ARE OUT THERE! I KNOW YOU ALL ARE LISTENING! SO HERE ME FOR ONE FINAL TIME!
I WANT YOU ALL TO REMEMBER! TO REMEMBER YOUR HUMANITY! YOUR VALUE! YOUR REAL RIGHTS TO HAPPINESS NOT BARRED BY EMPTY DOLLAR BILLS!
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE LIFE WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO, THE LIFE ALL OF US TRUE TO OUR HUMANITY DESERVE! NOT THIS RAMSHACKLE EXISTENCE WHERE WE SELL OF OUR HUMANITY, BIT BY BIT, LIKE EXCESS BODY PARTS! NO, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THE FUTURE WE WILL BUILD TOGETHER
AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT! NO MORE COMPLACENCY! NO MORE WEAKNESS! THE VAMPIRE THAT CONTINUES TO LEECH OFF OF US IS ALMOST DEAD AND WE CAN FINALLY BE RID OF IT BUT IF YOU CONTINNUE TO BETRAY HUMANITY!
SO MAKE! YOUR! DECISION!
WILL YOU CONTINUE TO BETRAY YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEING FOR THE BAUBLES THEY GIVE YOU! WILL YOU CONTINUE TO STAND BY WHILE CHILDREN DIE, ALL FOR THE SUNDAY GROCERY COUPON!
OR WILL YOU REMEMBER YOUR HUMANITY! WILL YOU REMEMBER THAT FUTURE WE DESERVE TOGETHER!
We have to fight to change the world. WE have to fight to make things right! We can't just stand by and hope the worlds gets better. The directorate and the corporations have made it all too clear that they will crush any humanity out of us. and we cannot just stand by and let it happen.
We are so close. WE are finally at the brink of a better future. This may be our only chance! So many.... so many, including me, have sacrificed ourselves to get this far.
So now you must choose. The hellscape you think you are comfortable in, the present that just asks your humanity. Or will you choose a better future.
It it is time to finally admit to yourself which side you truly are on.
Goodbye, my comrades. Goodbye my fellow fighters."
Alparslan Batur, with forlorn eyes failing to escape his regrets, strode forward and ended the broadcast.
And then the bunker door was torn out, and the red lion met his final opponent with steady eyes.
Pan Seulgi - New Deal Coalition Fleet Admiral/Leader;
Alparslan Batur - Commander/Leader of the Communist Coalition
Wu Huiliang - Leader of the Anubis chapter of the Syndicalist Democrats, and the representative for Anubis on the High Planning Council for the SRA
Faraji Balewa - Leader of the Anubis chapter of the Technocrat Republican, and the backup/assistant representative for Anubis on the High Planning Council for the SRA
Ajit Bhat - Admiral and commanding officer of the 4th Earth Directorate Fleet
Lafiza Khalil - Strategist for the 4th Earth Directorate Fleet. Aide/Assistant to Admiral Bhat
Kinaika Aguda - Earth Directorate Senator (Senator of the Congo, Zambia, and Angola)
Zou Li - High Infantry General of the 7th and 8th Deputized Mercenary Legions. Commanding officer of the ground forces accompanying the 4th Earth Directorate Fleet
Darya Ilina - Corporate Liaison (government required civilian position for every fleet) and Representative of the Interstellar Chamber of Commerce
32 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Surface of Anubis:
Perdition Peace Conference
Technocrat Republican: Faraji Balewa, Planetary Representative of Anubis
Faraji finally was making progress towards a realistic peace. He knew that Representative Huiliang had his own ideas, but trying to create a political bloc for his insane peace terms (or lack thereof) would not work out. He already knew Huiliang was still spending sleepless nights just trying to get one other representative on his side.
No, a key understanding you needed when you entered politics was that progress was reliant on setting realistic goals. You couldn't waste effort, time and political capital on unattainable goals. You needed to keep a firm perspective on what was effective and achievable. And Rep Huiliang had forgotten all about that with his insane plan of his.
A war against the Earth Directorate would always be difficult, and it was more about creating space independent from the corruption of the corporations. They couldn't fix everything. They couldn't establish Utopia. They had to be reasonable with what they could get out of this entire war.
And instead, Representative Huiliang wanted to play a game of brinkmanship, and try to push the Directorate to an extreme. He seriously expected to either outlast the Directorate, or make it agree to some ridiculous demands.
... and he'd have Anubis burn to ashes for his mad plan, if he had the means to accomplish it.
No, politics was about understanding what realistic agreements could be made, and then gathering enough supporters to get it to be passed in government. It wasn't about trying to hold the whole process hostage and subverting democracy!
Faraji knew that everyone would be coming to this meeting with their own plan, and he could just see the clusterfuck that could occur, as the Directorate took advantage of their lack of direction. He knew he had to organize a temporary political bloc, which had a singular idea about treaty terms and could negotiate with the directorate without being picked apart.
He looked again at his emails, quickly realizing which parties were being the most amenable to the idea. Luckily, it seemed like the Eco-Parliamentarians were fully on board with the idea, and only had some minor requests for the treaty that would be all too easy to negotiate. That was at least Kurdaelagon.
However, he was not as lucky with the other party interested in the idea. The Gallant gentlemen Party did offer at least the support of 2 more planets. It was the terms they asked for that was concerning, as they seemed to be intent on carving out their own fiefdoms, rather than establishing any basis for independence and autonomy from the corrupting corporate influence. The terms may have been cheap for the Earth Directorate to give, but Faraji knew that few would agree to fighting for such paltry aims. There was also the rumors about what the militia wing of the party had done during election season, vandalizing the offices and headquarters of political opponents. Faraji was fairly certain the rumors were false, as the Gallant Gentlemen had always been an upstanding civil political party, but it did paint a picture of a party connected to radicals who were most certainly not welcome in the SRA.
He looked again through his email and didn't find any other parties with more promising offers. While the Anti-monopolist Conservatives were also supportive, they did not constitute the majority on any world, and it seemed likely that just relying on them would backfire. Their terms were also a bit more risky, demanding certain limits from corporations that Faraji wasn't sure anyone would ever be able to negotiate.
The other socialist parties seemed far too divided to adequately rely on their support. They each had their own aims, which would inevitably conflict with each other, and make working together with each other impossible.
Then finally, the other major party he could ask for support was the Social Democrats, who he could already see would demand ownership over the project. While Faraji wasn't hungry for credit, he knew the socialists would somehow get it wrong, and wouldn't have the delicate touch needed to actually negotiate a working compromise. No, he couldn't go to the largest party in the SRA. Perhaps Wu could swing it, if he wasn't so far up his ass, but Faraji knew he, and his technocrats had their limits.
No, he would need to work with the conservative factions to get any reasonable peace treaty. It was unfortunate, but politics was about working towards reasonable goals.... and peace was already an exceptional bar they were trying to clear.
Faraji sat down, and prepared to write an email to Elliot Pearson, the party leader of the Gallant Gentlemen party. He knew it was only the beginning of a long night of negotiations and haggling.
47 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Slipspace:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Directorate Military: Admiral Ajit Bhat of the Reformed 4th Directorate Fleet
Zou Li began yelling again, "And that is why we must be willing to use WMD's! You cannot allow such barbarism to exist. Clearly the senate did not know-"
Admiral Bhat's patience had clearly been tested for far too long though, as he finally interjected, "SHUT UP, General Li! This session is to clarify our objectives for a peace summit, not elaborate on why a military response is needed. You have already been given more than enough of a forum to clarify our military objectives and all you were able to demonstrate was we would have to use unacceptable means. We made a decision then, to table an immediate military response, in favor of an attempt at diplomacy. Now, unless you are suggesting that the Mercenary commander of an army, or even a temporary board member of Alke inc. has the right to supersede an Earth Directorate Senator and Diplomat, and the democratically elected body they represent, I suggest you sit down and let the topic go."
The room stilled at the accusation of sedition thrown at General Li. It was the obvious rebuke, but the implications could mean that-,
"Fine.... Fine.... we will only consider a military response after this peace summit is ruined. I still hope we consider terms that will limit the amount of military power they are able to build up after this. And we better not be letting them make a fleet!"
Representative Aguda could only sigh in relief that General Li had taken the way out offered by Admiral Bhat, and not blown up the task force for his own ego. However, his suggestion was unworkable.
Strategist Khalil decided to pipe up here to rebuke, saving her the trouble, "You can't be serious with this proposal to ban all fleets and convoys, General Li. While we do have confirmed reports that most, if not all military warships of the SRA have been sunk, that does not mean that all fleets are gone, or that they are no longer required. Both the New Deal Coalition, and the Syndicalist Miners Communion still exist, and are fleet based. Any terms which forbid even a civilian fleet will be fought tooth and nail. Unless you are suggesting that the SRA will turn their back on two of their most important founding members"
Surprisingly, it was the Corporate Liaison, Darya Ilina, who responded, "Of course we have to push for this measure. Or do you not remember this entire war we've fought where these barbarians stockpiled ships and then overwhelmed and destroyed most of the Earth Directorate fleets. Surely, we have learned our lesson by now. It doesn't matter that they have deniable plausibility, by having some factions be entirely 'fleet-dependent'. Just force those fleets to be grounded somewhere. They don't need them. They can live on land and they choose not to."
Representative Aguda let out an audible sigh, before responding to the casual ignorance, "You are asking to Asteroid miners[1] to give up their ships? Or perhaps it will go better with the faction that took to space because there ground facilities, no, their schools and homes, were targeted and destroyed by WMD's in the first Corporate war[2]? Mrs. Ilina, please suggest sensible terms that we might actually be able to get the other side to agree to"
The looks on both Mrs. Ilina's and General Li's faces revealed that the discussion on this topic was not over, but merely being delayed. It was obvious they wanted to say more, but they hadn't expected the harsh rebuke. After a tense stand off, Mrs. Ilina continued, "Obviously, there are other terms we must stick by. The most important is the enforced trade and export term. All of these planets are important industrial hubs, and if we wish to rebuild as quickly as possible, we will need the industrial production on those planets!"
Representative Aguda once again looked at the map, examining the details for the planets within a single skip jump distance of the SRA. It was obvious after a little examination how important the SRA planets had been to local supply lines, as it appeared that 23 systems had solely relied on the remaining SRA planets, routing raw goods through these systems for industrial processing. The SRA had been able to be so successful despite wrecking interstellar trade due to this strong economic positioning, and under normal circumstances, Representative Aguda may have been more inclined to listen to the Corporate Liaison.
However, knowing that the plan was for the SRA to eventually grow into a more permanent thorn in the sides of the corporation, she pushed back, "I understand that you want to ensure that trade continues, and that the SRA does not continue to only trade internally. However, I can't help but see that the terms you propose suggest a mandatory minimum tonnage of traded product in several categories, with extremely stiff tax punishments for any failures or deviations on this front.
I can't help but imagine what deals you might be able to extract with such terms. After all, these punishments basically force these planets to reach the stated export quotas, and I can't help but notice that they will have to negotiate deals between only 1 or 2 holdings companies."
The corporate representative frowned, before responding, "Senator, surely you aren't suggesting that any companies that set up trade contracts shall illegally collude, and give unfair rates? Surely, just because a handful of companies-" "Subsidiaries" "Excuse me, Subsidiaries are involved doesn't mean that they will work together. They aren't allowed to share information about their individual contracts they are negotiating"
Which doesn't mean anything, since they can still coordinate through the holdings corporation, and even if they are caught, the law doesn't actually give a reasonable and reachable standard for evidence. She did have a background in case law, and she did realize that the courts basically had set the precedent that one must catch collusion in the act, and through real time communications (like phones). It was a ridiculous standard for any criminal act, especially collusion, and Senator Aguda knew she would have to nip it in the bud.
"Regardless of whether you think you can make a fair deal by the courts standards, the rebels won't set themselves up to fail by accepting these conditions. Instead, the Earth Directorate will purchase and transports necessary industrial production itself, and then we will sell interested corporations using a bidding war setup"
"Surely, the Directorate isn't intent on using such an archaic and inefficient means of distribution. There are several better ways to-"
"Fine, we will come up with a more equitable way later, if auctioning off completed industrial goods is too much of a problem." Senator Aguda couldn't help but smile. She knew an auction would never be on the table, but as long as the Directorate could be inserted as a middle man, she could try and ensure the SRA got a fair deal, and built itself up properly. They needed to ensure that the SRA remained a viable counterweight to the influence of the corporations.
Still, they had to get to the meat of the agreement.
Senator Aguda continued, "Admiral Bhat, what can you tell me about this sovereignty clause. Do you think it will work? Will it be better than my original proposal of giving them the ability to organize the local planetary civilian governments, with the caveat that they would still need to follow Earth Directorate interstellar law"
Admiral Bhat responded in a huff, "This whole idea is terrible. I understand giving them autonomy. It is full control of both military and civilian affairs. However, more realistically, we are asking them to perform the responsibilities of the Earth Directorate without the tools. They will be expected to keep peace without weapons of war. Furthermore, while we say autonomy, the exceptions here make it clear they will be expected to uphold the economic regulations and standards of the wider earth directorate, which is the exact thing they were revolting against. This just reeks of creating another rebellion within a few years"
Immediately, both the corporate Liaison and the Mercenary commander both began yelling in response, before the Senator regained control of the table, "Alright! Alright! You both clearly have something to say, so you will say it in turn. First, you General Li, and then you can say your piece next Mrs. Ilina.
General Li immediately started into his rant, "Are you kidding me? We are giving them this sweetheart deal? Surely if they are going to rebel soon, we should just nip this bud now rather than later!"
Admiral Bhat could only sigh in exasperation before motioning Mrs. Ilina to begin, "Admiral, while I respect your analysis, surely you are exaggerating things? At the end of the day, these rebel movements are little more than a cover for charismatic despots seeking a chance to grab power. We all know what they care about is the chance to set up their own little kingdoms, so if we want to end the war, we will need to give them that, or something similar. I proposed this solution simply because it stills gives the Earth Directorate enough leverage to reign in their behavior if they become too extreme"
Neither Admiral Baht nor Senator Aguda could believe their ears. Was this woman trying to be completely ignorant! OR did she just want ignore the plain truth in front of them all.
It was admiral Bhat who first composed himself, "Mrs. Ilina, while the Earth Directorate appreciates your analysis, the fact of the matter is that the followers of the 'charismatic despots' will still demand economic reforms. That is what they have been sold. They will appreciate the autonomy, but it won't buy their peace. They will have demands, which will be rendered impossible by the economic regulations you have put in."
At this point, the senator cut in, "Mrs. Ilina, Regardless of the personal intentions of their leaders, these groups are far more than cults of personality that you accuse them of being. These revolutionary groups have formed spontaneously, and often independently from their leader's rise to fame and glory. You cannot expect us to seriously-"
"Senator Aguda, I believe you misunderstand these revolutionaries. At the end of the day, I have worked with and against many a man and woman. They all desire power and control, and while in civilized space, you do not see people losing their minds, out here it is clear that many have fallen to a cult of personality. You see how they line up to die, how they fling themselves into danger! They are enthralled cultists, who rely on direction and guidance of 'godlike' leaders.
Trust me when I say that I've worked with many a prideful man with more than his fair share of devoted followers, and you don't deal with them by listening to the fig leaves of reasoning they provide. The actual reasoning doesn't matter, just these people's ego. If the Directorate can let go if it's pride for just a second and allow for these planets to have their own autonomy, you'll find you have a far more manageable problem, and they will likely accept any other terms you give them. I was chosen to be the corporate liaison because expertise in negotiation, and so, Senator Aguda, I can definitively tell you that this has all the signs of egotistic men trying to make their mark on the world. As long as you can sate their ego, even temporarily, they you can contain the problem. Normally I would suggest not even entertaining the idea, but if it will be as hard as General Li suggests to pacify the area, this is my next best solution."
Senator Aguda closed her eyes and made a decision. With a steely expression, she responded, "Corporate Liaison Ilina, I have listened to your council, and taken your advice into consideration. However, I will be the one determining the terms we will offer during the peace summit, according to my role as Earth Directorate Negotiator. I hope I don't have to remind you of your own role, Mrs. Ilina"
The corporate Liaison immediately responded to the forceful answer, "Senator Aguda, do you understand how difficult it will be to pass your peace treaty through the legislature if you don't take into account corporate advice and wisdom?!"
"Mrs. Ilina, I am quite clear, but my impression was that the Directorate would be happy to pass any treaty which would end this war, and I have been given a broad mandate, even following the wisdom of the very corporations you represent. I am confident that whatever treaty I bring to them will be more than adequate to pass our congress. I don't believe I need your advice on what the exact status of Autonomy for the SRA planets should be included in our peace terms."
It was a clear dismissal, and the room went quiet at the heavy declaration. Of course, it could probably end Senator Aguda's career, if the senator was going hard against corporate interests. And yet, everyone could tell that this was less a dispute between the government and corporations, and more a jurisdiction war between two politicians... And that the senator had just called Ilina's bluff and won.
1. The Syndicalist Miner's Commune, which is one of the primary naval forces for the rebellion
2. The New Deal Coalition fleet, which first became a fleetbound faction after the Freemont Massacre, which started the first Corporate war
25 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Surface of Anubis:
Perdition Peace Conference
Technocrat Republican: Faraji Balewa, Planetary Representative of Anubis
As Faraji walked into the building, he realized that the syndicalist leader was still making calls and sending messages. It looked like he had worked through the night... again.
Faraji asked his overworked friend, "Wu Huiliang, what have you been up to? I know you said you needed to make preparations for the 'peace' summit, but I hardly think you can be any work done throughout the-"
Huiliang responded enthusiastically, "And that is where you are wrong, my technocrat friend. This is where you are wrong!
I have made tons of progress. I-"
"I hardly think you could've made any progress" Faraji responded with a deadpan stare, "How exactly did you expect to convince anyone"
"Well, I admit you were right that there is a deadlock in Perdition. I haven't been able to get any sort of response from anyone there. However, I was able to get a definitive vote of support from Chrysalis. Apparently, the several Social Democrats that are willing to work with me to make sure that any peace plan includes a provision for worker's rights, at least locally, and includes the right to strike and the right to organize and protest. They are willing to work with the local syndicalists there, in exchange for some other harmless concessions. Other than that-"
Faraji interrupted, expecting more problems, "Other than that, you haven't had any luck whatsoever?"
Huiliang chided his friend, before continuing, "Faraji, don't interrupt. Its not as stark as that. I have made meaningful progress. On Eve, I have convinced much of the local Technocrat and Communist parties to start emphasizing militarization and strength. My efforts are baring fruit, and a lot of people now believe we are getting ready for a fight. The gallant party may hold the majority over there, buts its becoming clear the populace is expecting a fight. I've given both the communists and the technocrats the edge if they decide to support us in pushing for more advantageous terms of all sorts. Its not a formal deal, but they'll come around by the time we need to vote.
Similarly, on Kurdalægon, a huge campaign on sustainable Terraforming has started up. That kind of measure they are looking for probably won't be included on anything but the more radical peace proposals, and I've already heard more politicians taking a more hardline approach to the peace summit to attempt to get those terms include.
Finally, on Anansi, I am making progress with the social democrats. I know you talked as if they would be hard asses on this whole thing, but I've been able to argue them down from the SRA council changes. I think I'll have their support, and the only change we will need to concede is forming a dedicated foreign affairs department, rather than using the representative system we have now. Its not ideal, but I think I can limit the concessions I will need to give to just this. I just need a little more time and I will wear them down until they accept this and-"
Faraji voiced his own doubts, "And how does any of this work. You have several different groups willing to support more radical reforms, but in completely different fields. That isn't a recipe for success, that is a recipe for catastrophic discord. Hell, some of the things you've negotiated aren't even related to the treaty!"
Huiliang answered with a smirk on his face, revealing his plan, "My friend, that is where you fail to understand politics. It is not just a game between political players. It is a game about how you present yourself. Already, every single representative is making their own remarks and predictions about this peace treaty. They have already started attempting to sell this summit. Sell what they hope to achieve.
And what happens when they come here, and only our plans cover all the political promises they are making now?"
Faraji questioned his friend, "Seriously, Wu? They are going to back your radical proposal because it supports the few radical promises they have made? The most important thing they are promising is-"
"Meaningful peace. make no mistake, they can't just come back with a peace deal that invites the corporations back as if they never left. We didn't just fight for a decade for things to go back to the way they were.
Right now, those representatives are spending all their time talking about the summit, and selling a peace deal, and ultimately trying to rally their supporters for the next election. They are putting in all their time and effort into this, and when they come, and realize we are the only ones even pretending to hear their concerns, they will be more than willing to support us"
"Because they've gone too far to do the sensible thing? because of sunk cost fallacy? because they don't want to have wasted all their previous efforts? that is your plan?" Faraji retorted disbelievingly.
Huiliang tried to explain, "You know as well as I do that everyone wants to make nice promises that perhaps reach a little too far. Of course they will make their promises and not be able to deliver. So what happens when we are the only ones with a plan that vaguely delivers on the pledges they are making? Don't make it out as if we are doing something nefarious"
Faraji retorted forefully, "But nobody is asking for this! You can't just keep using tricks and force the outcome you want! That's not how democracy works!"
"I'm not bloody forcing anything! I'm not holding anyone at bloody gunpoint! I am just doing what I can to fulfill the SRA's original promises! Because originally we would've never settled for less!"
"But maybe we are different now! Maybe we have FUCKING CHANGED!"
"ONLY BECAUSE EVERYONE ELSE HAS DIED!
Only because the dreamers, and the brave who were the initial rebels, the initial believers in this cause, the first people to establish our league of free worlds, those people! Those people are now dead!"
Faraji voiced his own disbelief, "You can't be serious. You are saying we should ignore the living, for the Dead? That is not how democracy works!"
Huiliang responded just as forcefully, "We can't just ignore the Sacrificed! We can't just forget everything they were fighting for!"
"But They aren't here anymore! We can't be stuck in the past! We have a future to ensure!"
"And what about the future they imagined! What about the future they fought for! and Died for! Am I supposed to forget every dying boy or girl's last wish? Am I supposed to ignore the vows I made to those who sacrificed everything!
You know as well as I do the casualty statistics. Just how many people we've lost. The entire lost generation that is now forever gone from our planets. You know as well as I do that its just cowards and-"
Faraji answered the unspoken implication immediately, "Cowards like you? or Me? Not everyone can sacrifice themselves for the cause"
"But why is it that everyone that does, does not matter anymore. Why is it that our sacrifices' wishes don't matter anymore" Huiliang asked.
Faraji answered simply, "Because we have a duty to the living"
Huiliang answered incredulously, "a duty? to the very people who wouldn't have stood up in the first place? A duty to the very people that didn't support the Cause!"
Faraji refused to budge, "A duty to the people who elect us. And to our future"
"We have a duty to our cause! To our sacrificed!"
"So we sacrifice our democracy!" Faraji asked, incredulously.
"... No, I'm not suggesting that. But we have to use every means to get what we want, Faraji. You have to understand that. You have to back me up on this." Huiliang begged his friend.
Faraji Balewa could only give a disdainful stare at his old friend, before fleeing the room
4 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, In orbit above Perdition:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Directorate Government: Senator Kinaika Aguda, Lead Diplomat of the Directorate Peace Delegation
Senator Aguda looked on at the planet of Perdition from her bedroom. The former prison planet certainly seemed to have moved beyond its past, and become something knew. Even here, she could see the surface lit up in little lights as the world continued to work on. She could only hope that that same spirit of rebirth and rejuvenation would bless the peace summit.
After all, it was here where the Earth Directorate Empire would be reborn.
She recognized the rot of corruption in the senate. The seemingly endless deadlock in the halls of legislation for even the most straightforward of laws and limitations on corporate excess. The countless representatives who were little more than voice-boxes for their corporate financial supporters. The endless amount of legislation that was brought up in congress and never passed, and all of which was written by one corporate think tank or another.
It all had lead to an earth directorate which had stagnated. It all had lead to an empire demanding change, and a government unable to give it.
And now she had an easy opportunity to 'force' a reform, within the terms of a peace treaty. She had already planned for a series of 'concessions' which would force the directorate to take a firmer hand with the corporation's excesses, and finally reign in the undue influence of corporatism in the legislature. She couldn't help but smile. She was using this 'humiliating' peace treaty to sneak in the very terms that would rejuvenate the earth directorate. They had a chance to fix this, all of this!
Humanity still needed the guiding hand of the directorate. It still needed a single authority, rather than the chaos of warlords and kings. Rather than the chaos of nation states based on half-complete ideas. Rather than the madness of the current corporate era. It needed the guiding influence of the directorate, the path of peace and prosperity that could be provided by the wise and the insightful.
It needed a new golden century of peace. It needed to replicate the success of the 21st century.
And now, when the Directorate had been pushed to its breaking point, was the perfect time to do so. The directorate had always evolved when under threat, and this opportunity would be no different. This would be no different.
It couldn't be different.
The Directorate had to change... for Humanity's future. Otherwise...
Otherwise what could happen but human civilization ending.
One of the great fears as the corporate wars continued was the eroding of civil and wartime rights. It seemed like each conflict got worse than the last, and that some new great human tragedy seemed to occur every month. While on the frontlines, the war was hard-fought, and revolutionary ideas permeated society, within the core, and especially on earth, things were very different. Instead of righteous fury, there was a sense the war was all about revenge and vengeance. Instead of recognizing the core economic and human's rights issues, the majority of earth and the rest of the core saw the collapse of morality. They saw the rise of 'war depravity' and most had concerns about how 'civilization' would fall because of it. The common thought, on both sides of the spectrum, was that the continued eroding of the concept of human rights and war crimes would eventually lead to 'uncivilized society'. Many saw this as no sort of civilization at all, and the sentiment of the time was caught well with President Derringer's words, "Civilization without civility, without morality, without virtuous limits of any sort is not any sort of civilization at all. It is the return of barbarism, and the mark that humanity has returned to being nothing but animals!" However, while popular, the ideas and postulates of 'uncivilization' are barely supported by real world evidence, and seem to be more of a cultural stigma resulting from intense directorate and corporate propaganda over the past century. In reality, the evidence suggest...
- The final days: A history of societal collapses, and how human civilization responds
18 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Orbital Dock above Anubis:
Perdition Peace Conference
Syndicalist Revolutionaries: Wu Huiliang, Planetary Representative of Anubis
Representative Huiliang looked through his email again. There were still several unanswered requests and questions but he was focused on one thing. He needed to make sure the summit was a success. He needed to make sure he could stack the deck in his favor, so that they didn't just negotiate away peace for nothing.
He thought back to his arguments with both representative Faraji. He did understand they were afraid. He really did!
But they had a golden opportunity, to set up something new. To actually move forward from just fighting to building a new system, something that retained people's humanity. They could actually do something now!
He understood that this was a democracy. That he was supposed to sell his ideas in a public forum and then get people to buy into it. That that was how real democracy worked, and he didn't want to undermine that in any way.
And yet... and yet, this was not a true democracy. How can you say that, when people had already spent their votes with their lives, getting us to this point? How can you say that when the people most excited for this are the exact same people who already died for it? How can this be a democracy when votes are not being counted? When sacrifices, which speak louder than any check mark, are not being listened too?
He knew people were afraid. He knew that the people left were tired and hungry and lost, and that they just wanted it to be over. Even now, he didn't want to just take their votes away. Even now, he didn't want to set a precedent for who's vote was supposed to count.
But they needed this! so of course he would use tricks. Of course he would get buy in, and then use sunk cost fallacy to keep others on board. Of course, he would do all the things that history books would forget about. He would keep the solid foundation for a democracy and he would ensure that they got a proper deal here.
After all, if they didn't take a solidly anti-corporate position, they would just be worn down in the next decade by corporations absolutely willing to bend the rules. No, they would take a position that would secure this little piece of paradise for humanity and-
Huh, it seemed like Aysun Atli, the socialist leader on Anansi, was on relatively the same page about strategy and was wondering how they should collaborate. He had begun writing his response when he heard Representative Faraji come in. Continuing to write his response, he acknowledged his colleague, "Hey Faraji! Don't worry, I know we need to be ready to leave in an hour, but I've got everything ready and packed. I just need to respond to a few emails, and I will meet you at the airport and-"
Faraji voiced his old doubts, "Wu, are you still seriously considering this? This war is over. They have a fleet full of medium and heavy ships. Not 500 cutters. more like 500 frigates.... or heavier. We can't win against that! or at least, we can't play this game of insane brinkmanship that you are planning"
Huiliang tried to explain, "Faraji, listen! I've got things in place! There is a real opportunity for us get at least some of the more progressive-"
"Don't play coy with me. Are you still using your underhanded tactics, and ruining democracy? and tell me, is your plan A to get a good deal, or is it to extend this war and 'win'. Are you risking our families on your scheming still?"
Of course Faraji would bring that up again. Wu finished typing up the email while responding, "Listen Faraji, We've lost an entire generation to this war. We can't just walk away with nothing. They died for our principles, and now its our job to live up to them and-"
"And you risk our families and our friends and everyone and everything we care about, because you know who's opinions really should matter. Wu I can not just stand by and let you do this."
He clicked send, collected himself, and turned around to continue the debate and pressure Faraji until he conceded or he left because he didn't want to verbally concede. He turned to look Faraji straight in the eyes.
*BANG*
Faraji could see the look of shock on Wu Huiliang's face as he fell, but should he really be surprised?
Well, no, he absolutely would be, but that is only because he is a man that refuses to look at the people around him. Huiliang had been a visionary, someone who had a specific picture of what the world could be. He was charismatic and exciting, and sometimes you could work with him.
And yet, Faraji should've known better; He didn't really need to give his friend a second chance to turn back, did he. He always knew what the answer was going to be. Huiliang had always been obsessive when certain ideas had gotten into his head. And this had just been the latest project he hadn't been able to stop. And he needed this peace deal to be done his way, regardless of the collateral he risked. He didn't even try to understand those around him, and just bulldozed on through and-
Did he not realize by now that the one thing Faraji treasured more than anything else was his daughter. His sickly daughter who needed better medical equipment. A little girl who needed peace, because otherwise she might die any day due to lack of access to better medical equipment.
How many were in his position, that Huiliang would abandon with his antics. How many people did Huiliang consciously (or unconsciously) ignore because they didn't fit into his plan.
And that wasn't even taking into account his politics. He was a Technocratic Republican. Of course he wanted the corporations curtailed or gone. Of course he wanted a stop to the insane conditions that saw the common man left with nothing.
but he believed in a humanity that innovated itself out of its problems. A humanity that reached for the stars when earth was not enough. And humanity could do so much more, if it allowed itself to innovate, if it freed itself from the shackles of corporatism.
And yet, it wasn't just corporations that could stop research. It wasn't just the oppressive hand of a board that cuts funding. It could also be war.
Did Huiliang really not understand that they had put aside all their own desires for the war effort. That they had put away the things they believed in because they knew they needed peace first? Did he really think his people would mindlessly sign off just extending this war, just because of the dead he had made vows to?
Faraji took a deep breath and collected himself. He knew what he was doing. He was keeping his goals realistic. He was ensuring that they would have peace and democracy, without a warmonger undermining everything... Even if Huiliang was a friend... this was necessary.
This was necessary... This had to be necessary....
the door opened, and Faraji finally saw the cleaning crew he hired.... that's right, he had a plan, and he had a space ship to catch.
He had already handled the local station crew, who were going to make sure no one found out about this sad but necessary sacrifice. He had already done everything else, including getting the support of the conservative parties in the SRA. He just needed to get to the summit and do his job.
He was about to win this war, and achieve a reasonable set of goals. It would finally be over. He had no reason to regret or be afraid.
He had made the necessary sacrifices. There was nothing wrong with what he did. He just needed to make sure he understood that by the time he got to Perdition.
4 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, In orbit above Perdition:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Corporate Lacky: Darya Illinia, Corporate Liaison of the Directorate Peace Delegation
Darya Ilinia looked out the window, at the cloud covered planet. A shame that it appeared that the summit would happen under rain, when sunshine and warmth were shown to have a noticeable influence on the success of negotiations. Still, it wasn't like she hadn't faced tougher odds before.
She knew that the peace summit would be ... difficult. It was clear that Senator Aguda had no idea how these negotiations would function, or how she should be appealing to these uncivilized barbarians. Unfortunately, while she was preparing to make several compromises, it would not be enough.
Darya looked back at the folder on her desk, which included her own plans for a peace deal. She knew that they would have to be used at some point. Obviously the terms they were going with would not be acceptable to the SRA. They would want their own fiefdoms, and the Directorate was promising a little too much interference for that to be possible.
Still, while Darya had her immediate job of negotiating a peace deal, she couldn't help but imagine what would happen after the negotiations.
It was obvious that the Earth Directorate would flounder considering how it was already bending over backwards. No, the Directorate was weak, and it would only continue to rely more and more on the private sector.
Of course, the markets would take a hit initially. No one was ready to take the place of the Earth Directorate Military, especially its navy. She could almost see the falling share prices when multiple defense companies failed to take full advantage of the situation. Add onto that, that the stock market had been frozen until now due to the war, and she could see a massive downswing in the market.
And yet, she wasn't worried. After all, it was her great grandfather that had truly established the vast amount of wealth that belonged in her family. And he had built it off of crisis like these, when everything seemed to hand in the balance. He had made so many risky stock purchases, but because he had done his research, he had made sure to secure a fortune.
and she could tell a similar situation was about to happen. And she had to be ready to take advantage. She had to know which stocks would win her and her family a new fortune.
As she saw the planet of Perdition near, she began to research.
4 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, In orbit above Perdition:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Corporate Lacky: General Zou Li, commander of the Mercenary Legions
General Li couldn't help but pace. They were almost at Perdition, sure, but nothing was going right. It seemed even the corporate liaison was buying into the idea of peace. It was utterly ridiculous.
Even he knew that whatever the revolutionaries were up to no good. No, they had them all on the ropes, and they just needed to admit to themselves what they needed to do to get the job done. These rebels had made their choice, and they certainly didn't deserve the chance to come crawling back when things didn't go their way.
These idiots had almost destroyed civilization, and now that they were losing, they were going to get off easy! They still had the bloody 5th fleet to eradicate this little riot! There was no reason to cave so easily
... It was frustrating.
It was extremely frustrating, working with such idiots.
but even he knew, it took 2 parties to make peace, and one to make war. He didn't need to convince any of these morons.
He felt the ever reliable ally he had at his hip, his .40 magnum. He knew what he would have to do in order to get it through their thick skulls.
He had always made sacrifices, and eventually, the republic would understand that this was necessary. and the 5th fleet would understand and finish what he had started.
He just needed the determination and fortitude to do what needs to be done.
After all, words were never really the solution for this sort of thing. The barbarians were at the gate, and they wouldn't be dispersed by a peace envoy.
54 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Hestia system:
Battle of Gersemi
New Deal Coalition: Admiral Pan Seulgi
Admiral Pan Seulgi paced back and forth within her quarters. again.
She knew repairs and resupply had gone well. They had been able to almost get everything they needed, without having to do something desperate.
The ships would at least be well supplied for another 2 years, even if the new farm ship wasn't completed on time.
She looked out the window again, at the half finished hull of the farm ship. It would still be at least 4 months before they finished. Surprisingly, they had been able to rush construction a little, but it still irked her that she was cutting things so close. Maybe you should admit to yourself you never had a plan... That you made empty promises and brought a whole lot of people to their deaths.
She knew things were not going well on Gersemi. Her last report from their scout ship in the system had detailed that a secret strike had utterly failed, and that a large portion of his troops had been annihilated. It was... surprising that one of the lion's schemes had failed, but ultimately, it only showed how desperate the fight was getting. The 5th fleet was everything the Earth Directorate could gather up, and it just wasn't feasible to keep playing this game of cat and mouse. The fleet needed to start preparing to be completely independent.
The future was dark... Even if there was a plan, the future was undoubtedly dark... Because you were never willing to do what needed to be done. When will you SACRIFICE!
As Admiral Seulgi stared out into the void, an officer entered the command deck with a thick stack of papers that Seulgi recognized immediately.
"Ma'am, the last report on the battle of Gersemi just came through and-"
Seulgi immediately grabbed the papers with Commander Alparslan's last words. As much as she hated the man... she had a duty to hear his last words.
She quickly flew through the words, digesting his last moments...
"Of course, he must have his spectacle in the end..."
"Ma'am, I don't think that is the paper you need to be reading right now-"
"Stow it. Its hardly like there is anything we can do now. What else is in here that urgently demands my attention?"
"Ma'am? look at this"
And admiral Seulgi's heart could only spike with hope the moment she glanced at the page the officer was presenting.
72 days before the end of the 6th corporate war, Freyja system:
Battle of Gersemi
Directorate Military: Admiral Cunningham, Commander of the Massive Directorate 5th Fleet
Cunningham once again stared out the window while sitting in his chair, ever so often glancing at a small humble tank filled with preservative fluid at his feet. It was hard to believe it was over, but the evidence was staring him in the face.
He had finally collected the head of the red lion, the most famous Revolutionary of the Earth Directorate. He finally had won the necessary decapitating strike against the revolution, and all he would have to do is clean up the rest of the SRA, and these petty little riots would finally end.
He looked back at his fleet, noting the missing ships. This victory had cost him. He had to admit that. 90 million men from his ground forces, and 107 ships in his fleet. If it was anyone else, Cunningham would be horrified, but this was the invincible red lion. The boogy man of the directorate. Cunningham was just glad he was finally able to corner the man before he had a chance to escape.
He took one last look at the planet of Gersemi. and then he felt the ship lurch as it entered skip space. It would only be 40 days before they reached Anubis and were able to finally put the fear of god into the remaining vessels.
And then, just 30 second into the the trip, the ship began to violently shake.
"What the hell is happening!"
"Sir, Engineering is reporting multiple failures in the skip drive and-
"Can we drop-"
"Sir, the extra stress from skip-space exit will-"
"Put out an SOS, and figure out how to-"
The ship suddenly shook violently, as the crew scrambled to respond to the crisis
"How the hell did this happen?! We didn't suffer any damage to our skipspace systems. Figure out the error immediately!"
"Sir, we are having more problems. Other ships are also reporting skip space failures and-"
no.
NO.
NO!
He looked at the tank at his feet, into the red lions dead eyes.
NOOOOO!
He would not allow himself to be defeated by some already-dead socialist barbarian! "GET THE ENGINEERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY! I WON'T LET UNCIVILIZED RIOTOUS CURS WHO DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF A GOOD DAY'S WORK WIN! CIVILIZATION MUST WIN! FIX MY BLOODY SHIP SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY EXTERMINATE THESE BARBAROUS VERMIN AND RE-INSTATE CIVILIZATION! I WON'T HAVE US LOSING EVEN SLIPSPACE! WE WILL NOT GIVE IN TO THIS MISTAKE"
His crew scrambled to fix the problem, as the waves of hate emanated from him.
and all the while, the dead, preserved eyes of the red lion observed his final victory. The lion had won his final gamble
Later analysis would reveal a fatal flaw in all 3rd generation skip space engines. The n-ray radiation, paired with moderate stress environments caused destructive interactions with the Dubnium elements of the skip drive core. While these interactions only caused slight heat deformation at the time of interaction, this heat deformation would then turn into microfractures, due to the low elasticity of the Dubnium. Further analysis revealed these microfractures continued to grow exponentially when subjected to the stresses of supporting skipspace travel.
The Cunningham flaw is inherent for all Dubnium (gen 3) skipspace drives, and the chance for this failure can only be somewhat mitigated through the use of lead radiation shielding, which can lower the probability of Cunningham microfracture from developing due to n-ray exposure from 98% to 70%. It would only be with the introduction of more expensive livermorium skip space drives that this flaw would truly be fixed...
...
Of course, like many other engineering failures of this era, this flaw was entire foreseeable. In an ironic twist of fate, it was the red lion's father, Kudret Batur, who wrote his PhD thesis on the interaction between n-ray radiation and modern ship systems 35 years before the Gamble of Gersemi. There were 6 other papers written on similar topics which had also discovered the connection between n-ray radiation and skipspace engines, but all of these papers were either banned or buried, and their findings would not become discoverable until after the end of the war, when some copies of these papers started to be illegally distributed.
Of course, it would take 5 more years, and the death of Earth Directorate President Wilmington due to related skipspace accident before Nirah inc. (the main producer of skip space engines, capturing 83% of the market) would finally be charged with sedition, and proper research into the faults and flaws of the gen 3 skipspace engines could occur. Of course, it is for this reason that gen 4 skipspace engines would enter widescale production in...
- Development of skipspace Technology through the 24th century; An Engineering History
4 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, In orbit above Perdition:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Directorate Military: Sergeant Lafiza Khalil, Strategist of the Reformed 4th Directorate Fleet
Sergeant Khalil looked on at the humble planet of Perdition. It certainly didn't seem like it should be all that important....
And yet the fate of humanity would be decided here. Fitting, considering how the most recent war had torn down humanity to almost collapsing, when you think about it a certain way.
She had worked with Admiral Bhat for years. She knew that he saw the unsustainability of all this... the insanity of it... They both knew this couldn't continue.
The entirety of the Directorate was hanging on a thread. They just didn't have enough ships to even keep a meaningful garrison fleet in all their systems. They had only 2 functional fleets which were tied up on one side of the galaxy. no, that wasn't even quite accurate; There was the 5th fleet, and then there was the leftovers called the 4th fleet. If a new slew of rebellions started up again, the directorate wouldn't be able to respond for years.
If they didn't settle things here today, decisively, they entirety of human space would begin to fracture.
...
She could just see it now. The Earth Directorate barely able to protect and secure earth, and some of the closest core systems. Warlords appearing across the periphery and rim, some closely associated with corporations, and others being strident anti-corporatists. The entirety of human space devolving into warfare, and never again truly unifying.
She hated that the corporations had pushed things this far. If they had just moderated themselves sooner! If they would just take a step back!
but now, they needed a peace deal. Now they needed something the other side would accept.
Senator Aguda's plan had to work. It had to set up a workable peace.
Otherwise, human civilization would finally end and devolve into a millennia of interstellar bloodshed.
54 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Hestia system:
Battle of Gersemi
New Deal Coalition: Admiral Pan Seulgi
Admiral Seulgi couldn't believe it. A skip space accident. No, an induced skip space 'accident'.
Of course, the actual skip drive failure had only destroyed most of the warships upon skipspace exit. Still, 400 warships all having skipdrive failures, leading to complete destruction of all malfunctioning vessels and loss of all military forces aboard was far, far too convenient. The red lion had certainly done something to cause this miracle.
She looked over the report again, but it was clear her scouts hadn't been able to get more information on what exactly had happened. However, they did have all the information about what had happened immediately afterwards, once the surviving ships had dropped out of skip space.
With around 400 warships being lost, that had left little over 10 warships in the fleet, with the remaining 510 surviving vessels being troop carriers, it would've been difficult for the remaining ships to salvage their mission. She could already imagine the huge morale shock that was just losing a mega-dreadnought, which was supposed to be all but invincible to smaller classes of ships. Only a skilled captain would've been able to continue the mission after losing that, and all the other ships in that overpowered armada.
Instead, with only a few military ships, and around 500 troop carriers, with soldiers belonging to over 60 different mercenary companies, the inevitable happened.
They had immediately started fighting each other.
It would be quite funny, if it wasn't so sad. From what she could gather from the comms chatter, the external reasoning was to purge traitors and saboteurs in the fleet. However, when 9 different opposing factions formed, all to exterminate all other ships outside of their own faction, including the remaining earth directorate cutters, it became clear the stated reasoning nothing more than a lie. More specifically, it was clear that the mutual backstab by all parties had meant to be both a power grab and a way to pawn off blame for the defeat. Instead of banding together for everyone's benefit, the mercenaries had torn themselves apart to avoid accountability, and amass factional power in the fleet.
Admiral Seulgi had to admit the final result was a fitting end to the Red Lion's final gamble. Of course, in his final victory, it had been the flaws of his opponent that had doomed them. And the 5th fleet was dead. While 7 troop carriers belonging to the Nerio inc. (The only surviving mercenary corporation after the battle) had survived, the remains of the fleet had not made any motion towards continuing the mission, or even regrouping with other Earth Directorate forces, and had instead retreated back to the nearest port with a Nerio inc. office, the port system of Wurrukatte.
The 5th fleet had housed 550 of the newest ships, from small cutters, up through dreadnoughts, and of course including the sine mega dreadnought flagship EDS Salvation. Along with it, 1000 troop carriers of varying types had carried 200 million soldiers. It was the largest army and navy the Earth Dominion would probably ever assemble. It was the new backbone of the the Earth Directorate Empire, and it should've been more than powerful enough to dissuade anyone from any sort of future revolt.
And now it was dead and scattered to the winds.
It shouldn't have been possible. It really shouldn't have been possible. And yet, now, it really did look like the Earth Dominion would fall.
They only really had the 4th fleet left and that was not enough to maintain the entire Earth Directorate empire. The nightmare was finally over.
Well, it should be, unless the SRA agreed to a peace deal now, before they could learn about this tragedy. Admiral Seulgi knew they were gathering in Perdition to negotiate peace terms, but if she left now, she could let them know and-
She looked back at the fleet, and especially the unfinished farm ship. She needed the new boat to support all the new refugees she had picked up. And they certainly wouldn't be able to keep their reservation if their army left, and the corporate goons were allowed to run roughshod over the port again and steal the ship.
And she couldn't just keep the fleet back here without her. Not with all the new faces. Not with all the uncertainty. They all needed to stick together.
It should be an easy decision. Go in a pack and finally defeat the Earth Directorate in a war of words at Perdition.
and yet she couldn't help but feel the nagging impression that she was abandoning her charges by not making sure all their meets would be met. She knew how difficult it would be to get another farm ship, or something equivalent, in the near future. They had burned almost all their good will on Hestia getting a good deal for a rush order. It would be so difficult to make this up. Its only difficult because you keep making the wrong decisions. You keep refusing to-
she stepped back, and took a deep breath. She knew better. They would be able to do something at Perdition. The ship they wouldn't be getting now was an expensive waste, but they could figure out some alternative way to make things up at perdition. It was a bloody treaty negotiation. She shouldn't default to her standard behavior of prioritizing civilians. This wasn't even a sacrifice this time.
She took another deep breath in and resolved herself.
Admiral Seulgi gave the order, even as her worries refused to leave her, and the New Deal Coalition fleet prepared for one last journey in this terrible war.
4 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, In orbit above Perdition:
Directorate Peace Delegation
Directorate Military: Admiral Ajit Bhat of the Reformed 4th Directorate Fleet
Admiral Bhat was glad he might see an end to the fighting in his lifetime. When the corporate wars had started, he had been a green recruit. He remembered back then... All the news reels had talked about violent rioters, and stupid lazy teenagers not grateful for the bountiful opportunities they had been provided. He remembered landing on the planet, excited to bring order to a planet filled with people making excuses.
He remembered the order to gas the schools the protesters had set up, and were organizing their demonstrations at. He remembered being the unlucky newbie, and having to 'clean up' the battlefield. He remembered removing innocent children's bodies.
It really wasn't all that memorable a day for him, was it?
No, killing kids..... He had done plenty of things like that his entire career, hadn't he? Killing kids like that certainly wasn't the worst of it.
He idly wondered if the fact that he had continued trying to justify things to himself is the reason he had survived. He remembered so many of his friends had complained and said something... and then had been frozen out in various ways. He remembered hearing about the things they did to properly fortify them for what needed to be done.
He remembered how naturally the same thing had happened in his own unit during the 2nd and 3rd war, the 'small' atrocities of that time. How their commander had explained it had to be done, and then had gone on to enjoy the extensive 'gifts' from the local corporations...
He remembered even then, justifying things to himself. Trying to reason that the rebels were the entire cause of the problem, and that they just needed to be eliminated and then everything could go back to normal.
It had only been in his 40's and 50's when he had tried stopping to do such things, wasn't it? Trying to give excuses to weasel out of 'hard decisions' and ignoring orders and later faking bad comms. and he'd ridden by like that, and had dirtied his hands less and less.
but at the end of the day he was a warrior. He knew how to shoot and kill. Humanity. Humanity had always been important, and he'd justified ignoring it so many times. And these wars just kept getting worse.
He knew they were losing their humanity. He knew that these wars were justified, and that as long as things continued as they were, people would rise up and fight... And he knew the next fight might break humanity across the stars.
He knew all that... but he was a soldier. He knew how to hold a gun, knew how to command a fleet. But how to make sure Humanity and morality and civilized conduct returned to all the stars...
He was not the man for that. He knew he needed help with all of that. He knew Senator Aguda had a plan. He knew his strategist, Sergeant Khalil, would help. He knew that they would make sure this worked.
He hoped they would make sure this worked... He hoped.... because he knew humanity could not afford another war like this.
11 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Phobos system:
Battle of Gersemi
New Deal Coalition: Admiral Pan Seulgi
It was just one more jump. One more jump to Perdition. Admiral Seulgi was pacing nervously... again. You're making a mistake.
She knew what she had sacrificed. Her fleet was no longer self-sufficient. She had just wasted a bunch of political favors on a non-existent ship. You always make mistakes. And this time you won't be so lucky.
but she was going to break the back of the Earth Directorate. Once everyone learned what happened to the 5th fleet, it would be obvious that the Directorate would take whatever peace it could get. You should listen to your gut. You are definitely doing everything wrong here.
She had made the right decision. no, you didn't
It was worth the risk. no, it wasn't
She was nothing like the coward that the red lion had described her as. He had you pegged from the first moment he saw you. Its so obvious what you really are.
Admiral Seulgi winced as she realized she had taken the moment to besmirch a dead man. She hated him, but there was no reason she needed to kick him while he's dead. His opinions didn't matter anymore. His opinions matter because they are true.
They didn't matter.
She was about to end this war, and she should not be afraid of the peace that would come after. No, you aren't. A person like you could never win real peace.
So why was her body on edge. Why did it feel like everything was going to go wrong... Because you know exactly what is about to happen
and it was all her fault.
17 days before the end of the 6th Corporate war, Orbital Dock above Anansi:
Perdition Peace Conference
Syndicalist Revolutionaries: Aysun Atli, Planetary Representative of Anansi
Aysun Atli looked at the email from Representative Huiliang again. It seemed they were on the same page, for once, and that he was finally willing to admit he needed help. While she was sure that Representative Huiliang would be up to his old tricks again, it was clear he had the right idea about haggling for terms now, rather than accepting whatever deal was given to them. They finally had the earth directorate and the corporations at the peace table. They finally had the chance to properly change things!
and yet, she couldn't help but feel like things wouldn't be so simple. She had already heard about the radical conservative party, the Gallant Gentleman, causing trouble on Eve with terror bombing against the other political factions, and also on Cerberus with massive riots. She had also heard about other suspicious movements, but she couldn't be sure.
She could feel it in the air. Something was going to go drastically wrong at the Perdition summit. She definitely needed to talked to Representative Huiliang as soon as possible, just to head off whatever her instincts were trying to warn her about
-[X]Gage the Morale: Recent events... event events have shaken people. You let everyone know that it would be a hard fight, but now its looking frankly impossible, with monarch turning on itself. You need to know where everyone stands, how badly their support of you is shaken. You need to know what they are actually thinking, and what you need to accomplish to regain their support. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 50%. Reward: You gauge the Morale of your People and some of their needs. Rolled: D100 => 57
(Sanjar POV)
It was times like this that Sanjar wishes he took that Public Speaking course in college. But no...mother said you needed to focus on your mathematics and social connections within the company.
It makes you seem aloof and careful, all admirable qualities within an administrator and leader, but not one that can inspire confidence in the hearts of the downtrodden. It takes more than good work ethics and making sure that food is available and that the walls were up.
No what they needed was hope...and you could give them some corny slogans and the confidence that they would die from disease, overcrowding, and war.
----------------------------
Factory Foreman Felix Shou-Materson was a fisherman's son, as you recalled from a long line of Swedish and Vietnamese fishermen during the various stages of Colonization on many planets, from Iris 8 to Shadow's various colony fisheries.
An honest man who migrated to Halcyon during the smaller second wave about Twenty-Five years ago, he was all but a native now. He was the City's Union Council Member (At least until they can organize something real and have an actual election to solidify things.) and was a reliable man, knew how to gauge a man.
"Felix." You said as you leaned to his overhead perch like a normal day at work. "How goes repairs?"
"Quiet, but efficiently." He said, as dull as the sawdust from the mushroom stalks they turned into a wood-like substitute.
"That's not why I'm here Felix...I know you're honest with me to the point of insults at times, but the people are they well?" You asked.
"Why should you care?" He said.
"Because like it or not, we're all stuck on this Moon until the Board collapses by their own stupidity or someone forgets to lock the gate." You said. "They're my people too, I swore that Union Oath same as you."
"Yes...back when there were three of you squabbling over the reins." He said. "Now look at you. We're stuck with the pencil pusher."
"If you wish to imply or start anything...please do so at the next council meeting." You said. "If you have any complaints from the organization as a whole I am happy to see it through..."
Felix spat on your shoe. "Sanjar, we're on edge, you've given us more than any other corpo, but your nothing to them. We went on this boat for our own benefit-"
"Have I done nothing but cater, assist and risk my own ass time and again...then and now." You said calmly, you always hated the derogatory comments you get by being a paper pusher, logistician...and the one that does all the unfortunate detail work.
They could never understand how terribly dull and important all the forms needed to run society behind the scenes.
"That you have, and the fact you stayed helped, but with the shitshow at Starbrook, and Bryant leaving, and Mirai being god knows where in the black...you've got some social chips and some respect, but not much of it." He said.
"They want to back a winner, and will get rid of me without results." You said.
"I know...but you've got time and we're willing to suffer it, for now...The Union likes you Sanjar and you are one of us, but you can be easily undone by-" He stopped.
The threat had been noted.
The Union did toy with the idea of a Commune or a revolution time and again during the early years of your plan...but you discarded the idea with slideshows, graphs, and a lot of last-stand suicide speeches recorded for posterity.
Most of them were terrified that the extreme radicals tended to kill their families, before then failing dramatically, and then leaving everyone else to suffer the consequences of living under a corporate boot again...
They found it rather excessive even for them.
But so far, with what you have heard, they are willing to suffer, for now...you need wins to gain confidence.
Confidence is a Government's Capital, as much as a Corperation's.
You just needed...more of it.
Reward: The People are shaken by events outside of your control, but Morale has for the most part been steady.
Hopefully, it holds for you to make will into action and action into success.
-[X]Cast the Net, Find Trade and Trade Partners: communities have gone dark. It feels like half the moon disappeared overnight. Sanjar already has his people wondering about their loved ones back home, and he has nothing to tell them. Worse, as more and more people wander into stellar bay, stranger and stranger rumors come in about the outside world that Sanjar has so suddenly been cut off from. Now, he hears about the rise of tyrants, or the creation of new socialist communes, and even stranger things. He's also heard tales of what Graham has been up to, ever since he left MSI... some stories Sanjar doesn't want to believe. The world feels like its going mad, and Sanjar needs to do something to figure out what is going on out there. He has a duty to govern all of Monarch, not just the bay near his headquarters. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 40%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You learn of some of the Communities of Monarch that have sprung up and try to contact them. Rolled: D100 => 99
Well, you didn't expect settlement reports to be coming in this early...perhaps Monarch's inhabitants are as stubborn as you are.
"How many settlement pings did we get?" You said.
"Yes." The technician said.
(To Be continued in Monarch's Modern Madness)
-[X]Organize the caravans: With so much of Monarch suddenly cut off from each other, you already know that most communities must be suffering. The board had tried to make each community fairly specialized, but with recent events, you know that the lack of self sufficiency across Monarch is now a gaping weakness that effects so many people. Unfortunately, it will be difficult to restart trade, with all the dangerous wildlife, and everything else that has happened. And yet it isn't impossible. If you can free up a fair amount of firepower, and use them to guard a massive caravan that will wind its way across Monarch, its possible to restart trade, to a certain degree. It will be like your current logistics trade convoy system, but even bigger. It won't be the most efficient trade system ever, but it should ensure that all the local communities are kept afloat with the supplies they need, and should help invigorate your economy to a certain extent. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 50%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You organize, trade caravans to work towards the remaking of your economy. Rolled: D100 => 92
The Economic Report from the Caravaner's gave you great and wonderous joy.
The Economic Situation appears to have gone in your favor and in doing so...led to perhaps the best situation that you could have asked for.
Problem, you had information but no concrete deals.
Reward 1 of 2: Information and Trade vectors across the Planet has been mostly sorted. New Deals can be made and more. Hopefully things will turn in your favor.
(Details to be expanded upon in Monarch's Modern Madness)
-[X] Organize the City Council: The Steller Bay City Council was supposed to be a rubberstamp, a way to legitimize the larger social control of the Board over the wider population. Its an old trick, and one Sanjar planned long ago to support his own agenda. It started with little programs, street cleaning budget and trash collection, sanitation duty, and later, even enforcement of wider city laws with a Local non-corporate police force. Now with things going to shit far more then he could have predicted it was time to give them far more responsibility and hope they are ready for it. Because we are all in this Raft of a city together now...and the time to back out ended a long time ago with the last evacuation shuttle. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 30%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You attempt to Organize your Civilian Government from a Rubberstamp to something that can handle power. Rolled: D100 => 75
Well. at least you were able to find someone to counterbalance the Union Representatives, bless their heart and ambitions but you know that a degree of restraint is needed to harness their ambitions into a more productive end.
The last thing we need is to get over-stretched at this point. We barely have enough as it is.
Thank goodness for the Political Exiles that made Monarch their home.
Walter Alveron (Aged 61) of the Halcyon Democratic Reform Group, was a known firebrand during the previous administration before aging into a more centrist view of the world, which made him far more realistic and cautious then you. He's a safe man, but practical, everyone knows him, and you trust his judgment on practical matters.
Felix Shou-Materson (aged 47) of the MSI Union Worker Councils (factory), a stern reliable factory foreman, who is well known for getting results in all the fields he applies himself too. His straightforward and practical nature has made him both a reliable manager in the factory, sticking to deadlines while respecting is employees, as well as an effective politician, who is more interested in getting results and effectively representing his constituency than grandstanding for radical political philosophies. While he's willing to upset people with his honest opinion, he has also been a valuable ally to Sanjar in the past, and helped establish many of the early worker protections that Sanjar wished to implement.
Seline Anders (Aged 54) of the MSI Union Worker Councils (fishery), a noted socialist and fisher boat captain who deals with the massive importance of keeping the ships running, she has plans and ideas, but everyone knows that with the situation at large, grand victories are unsustainable. But neither was doing nothing.
Kazimir Zhukov (aged 47) of the Monarch Entrepreneurial initiative is a well known libertarian ideologist who failed to find much influence while the Board owned monarch. He believes that economic competition between several unaffiliated companies is the best way to move forward for Monarch, instead of the top down control Sanjar employs. While not a popular candidate, Zhukov represents the interests of the Monarch Field campus, as well as several ambitious managers within MSI, and is often an important swing vote within the council.
Emmeline Kraus (aged 64) of the MSI Living Rights Advocacy Group, a former life support systems engineer and maintenance worker with a long history of attempting to bring more attention and funding towards infrastructure, rather than research and military spending. She isn't the most popular member of the council, but her supporters are extremely devoted and ensure her political viability even in the current chaos.
Cemre Ayvaz (aged 37) is the most radical council member to date, being a part of the Progressive Monarch Syndicalist and Leftist Coalition group ever since her college days. The Biochemical engineer and her supporters are one of the few leftist groups who have categorically rejected Bryant and is iconoclasts (over philosophical differences over pacifism) that still maintains enough popularity and support to retain a council seat. However, she does find difficulty enacting her agenda, stubbornly campaigning for her more radical and idealistic proposals that make her unpopular within the council itself.
Reward: MEET the Steller Bay City Council. God help us all.
-[X] Tax Codes, Law Codes, and the Law Damned Code of the Frontier: The Board, despite its corporate-controlled nature of rulership, taxed the fuck out of everything from alcohol (Because of a mass drinking epidemic nearly 20 years ago) to grave sites (Land belonged to the townships, and townships belonged to the corps). It was cruel and inefficient to the average worker and taxpayer, Sanjar looked at the ledger and shouted. "WE CAN DO BETTER!" He already ran the calculations, now came the cutting of unneeded taxes and regulations. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 40%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You remake the tax code whole cloth to make it manageable to your situation (2 AP) Roll 1: D100 => 90 Roll 2: D100 => 61
Meanwhile on Byzantium....
Minster Clarke looked at the Colony Tax and Expense reports that had now been sorted onto his desk as he groaned in pain.
"I get that due to the Skipgate blackouts we've become penny pinchers but by LAW this isn't taxation this is complete theft!!" He shouted.
The Colony's Working and Middle management classes couldn't survive the level of taxation that the damned Board was trying to weasel and wring out of them. It would take years...no decades before he'd have the political capital to lessen the burden on the Halcyon Citizens.
Taxes on Gravesites, Taxes on Cleaning Water, Debt Shuffling...if the level of Cronyism happened in the Core world, the Govenor would have shot them and seized their property for Tax violations.
"WHO IN THE LAWS Fuck Authorized this shit!" He shouted.
"As of today sir...you did." Chairman Rockwell said as he walked in with a rather expensive bottle of drink. "Care to join me for my Inauguration party."
"Go fuck yourself Charles." He said.
--------------------------------------------
(Sanjar POV)
"So its simple we remove Gravesite Fee's, Make Debt Shuffling require a lawyer to authorize and ban all taxes on Cleaning Water." You said as you lifted a massive binder onto the City Council Table. "What do you think?"
Kazimir was ecstatic. "Sanjar you madman, lowering taxes to liberate the common man its all but fool proof."
Walter nodded in some degree of approval. "These are board Taxes not MSI chartered, so they don't have any legality anyway...what else is in it."
"Every Tax code, for the entire planet we'll need, with some caveats for economic growth and land holding freedom." You said. "I need sleep."
The Council looked at you concerned.
"What about our Law Code?" Seline said. "Don't we need a Pro Monarch Law code to placate the rest of the Council?"
"You know I thought about that...and I sent MSI's remaining lawyers and refugees with a talent for law and civil service to work making the law code." You said.
"So when will it be ready?" Emmeline asked. "We'll need to overview and approve it."
"Oh, it should be done in a few days." You said.
"How long have you been up?" Cemre asked.
"Two days, three hours, and 20 minutes...now if you excuse me, oblivion awaits." You said as you collapsed on the cold hard floor of the council hall.
"Not again...So we lowered the tax burden by 64%, how will that help?" Cemre said.
Walter smiled. "That means the taxpayer only pays 36% Income tax...meaning they have a disposable income and financial security for the first time in decades."
Reward: Law Code Established for the MSI, +3 to all Stewardship Rolls for 3 turns as your people are now confident that they are able to live under your leadership and competently be governed.
As for the Economy, It can now be called upon to improve a RnD, or Diplomacy Roll by +3 for one turn.
-[X] Mantiswarm Magic: Quite honestly, you had forgotten this project existed. This research was fairly cheap, and it kept some of your more brilliant researchers happy, by giving them a topic they liked that they could look into in between more important projects. But now, they have purportedly come up with a solid prototype design, and are asking for a significant funding increase to test and hopefully complete the design. Ultimately, while you do have some spare fighters for your airforce, these researchers are offering to design a significant improvement to your fighter wing, that can maintain the top speed of current designs, but significantly increase maneuverability, and even enable extreme maneuverability at low speeds (similar to hummingbirds or mantiswarms). Purportedly, they were able to merge common fighter designs with the wing design of a mantiswarm, and somehow, it all works fine. If this research pans out, you could turn your planetary fighter wing into a ground support unit, and use it like an attack helicopter, in addition to its traditional role as a dogfighter. They even mentioned some preliminary attempts to replicate the plasma blasts that mantiswarms can purportedly spit out, although that seems ludicrously far from cost-effective considering current research findings. Cost: 4 AP, Chance Of Success: 60%. Successes Needed: 5. Reward: You make the "Mantiswarm Combat Package" to upgrade your fighters and possibly create new designs for the future. Roll 1: D100 => 76 Roll 2: D100 => 63 Roll 3: D100 => 65 Roll 4: D100 => 48 (4 Sucesses!)
Federov looked at you as you pointed at the cannon. "What in Law's Name?"
He smiled "A Micro Plasma Cannon, capable of 400 Rounds per minute at full blast or fire five heavy heat rounds that can melt armor and flesh like paper..."
"I feel a but coming." You said.
"Right you are, this thing is a power hog, so we can have regular ordinance or plasma." He said.
"What about the v-tol? or at least the hover feature." You asked.
"Still needs work, but we're getting close." He said.
Reward: 4 out of 5 Successes achieved.
-[X] Rebuild the Fishery Factory: Well it seems that the Steller Bay Fishery took a number from the Orbital Bombardment that followed the Amber Heights Massacre, it is time for what comes after, rebuilding and restocking the factory to modern standards, with updated safety and health regulations to keep the Union happy. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 80%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You organize, and rebuild your fishery, and make food production a thing again. Roll 1: D100 => 82 Roll 2: D100 => 57
Looking at the Fishery, you looked at the Older construction workers and smiled. "Can you fix it?"
"I say it will take a week." The Foreman said.
----------------
Saltuna: Halcyon's Gift from the Sea, Salt it cut it....Stick it in a Stew and cook it well.
-------------
Sanjar looked at the radio commercial, "Is it too much?"
"Its the Truth." Cecilia said.
Reward: The Factory has been fixed, +2 Free AP, the Food Problem has been partly sorted.
-[X]Organize the Union!: When Sanjar first led MSI to break off from the board, it was the union that provided the critical support needed to both Hold and keep the City of Steller Bay and the surrounding Countryside. While many of their leaders are now dead, missing or...in the case of the more radical ones wandered off to play warlord...its time to review and reorient their assets to the road ahead. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 60%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You Organize and give direction to the UNION of MSI, and prevent...issues. Rolled: D100 => 45
Organizing them wasn't the issue, the internal machinations to form and maintain a union had survived the mass orbital bombardment of Monarch proper...No, the problem was that they were being bullheaded.
The Union Overseer Lasya Singh was always in a way jealous of you and your machinations, something about being some dirty company man. But you brushed it off as mere envy. But now you had to manage that envy and her power.
"Lasya...I shall say this firmly...we are lowing the hours to a Twelve Hour day, with free lunch for both workers and their children and that's final, because like it or not, we cannot afford to do any lower." You said.
"A Ten hour day would prevent wider exhaustion, and allow for more shifts...and keep you as a man of your word." She said.
Again with that...she thought you an ideologue...you were not, even if you supported their policies, you never truly supported the methods.
You sighed. "If it were easier to implement it would have been done without your complaints, alas the situation is not what we call ideal and we must make sacrifices to adjust to reality, not ignore it."
You insulted her by saying she ignored reality...it was common enough an insult.
"And this "Weekend idea?" She said.
"Two half days on Satuday and Sunday...I myself will need it."
Finally...you were getting somewhere.
Reward: They've been organized and despite grumblings, are working in lockstep.
-[X]MSI Security and YOU: By the Khalsa that Slogan is terrible, but we need to realize just what exactly our Military Assets are, organizationally, what equipment they have, force deployment patters...do they even have extra pairs of Socks? These are important. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Successes: 90%. Successes Needed: 2. Reward: You organize, and learn all of your Forces of MSI's Security Forces. Rolled: D100 => 62
Reward: 1/2 Success, you have your Ground Forces known.
-[X] Pest Control: While you have been able to exert some control over rampaging animal fauna, it still hasn't completely controlled the recent chaos. Its clear that Mantisaur stampedes and Mega-Canid attacks will continue as long as the ecosystem is still disrupted and the populations of dangerous animals are still large.... which brings to mind a simple idea. Since you aren't actively using your military, perhaps it will be worth it to cut down the population of hostile creatures on monarch, and buy the colonists on the moon some breathing room. You are sure that people will appreciate this measure to save civilian lives.... but it will mean significant casualties within your forces, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to end the conflict and blockade by Halcyon before these animals grow their populations and become a problem again. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Success: 50%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: MSI Security Forces Go out and Play Big Game Safari Hunter. Rolled: D100 => 89
Well they came home with Canid Corpses...and Dead Mantiswarm Bugs...
A fine hunting run.
Reward: +1 Free AP.
-[X] Find the Starbrook Quarry Attackers!: With the recent attack at Starbrook Quarry, it is clear that someone, possibly Graham, is already attacking you and your allies. Its time to investigate exactly what happened at the Starbrook Quarry, and see if you can determine where the attackers have gone. Beware, though, that your investigators don't end up going in completely unprepared, and get ambushed just like the commune was. These people obviously considering hurting MSI and its allies a top priority, despite the chaos that has enveloped the planet, and its clear they may be willing to do anything in order to hurt you and your people. Cost: 1 AP, Chance Of Sucess: ???%. Successes Needed: 1. Reward: You organize and search for Starbrook's Attackers. Rolled: D100 => 85
Well, now you were getting somewhere...They had mortars, which both made it easier to track, but harder to pin down..
"Nomads...why did it have to be Nomads." You groaned as the reports came in.
(Continued in Monarch Madness.)
AN: This took way to long to make...Hopefully the Interlude will be easier.
Monarch was originally called Terra-1,a lazily named placeholder from the end of the age of colonization by the Halcyon Bord before the mass colonization of the System Proper, it was always going to be a tough sell to terraform it given its proximity to the Gas Giant Olympus (Again another placeholder) and its rather unstable geological conditions.
Dispite all of these issues, it was Terraformed along with Terra-2 early in the Systems life, but much like its sister colonies, it was plagued by poor management and unforeseen consequences, the already existing wildlife rapidly changed and evolved into deadlier preditors and made the issue of solving the terraforming issues difficult.
Now things improved under our last Halcyon Bord Administrator Jason Shen who, unlike many in the system, saw Terra-1 as a valid future investment and poured much of the treasury into making the various companies that would later call Monarch their home.
Monarch Steller Industries...or rather its previously named version was the first of a long line of Corperate entities sent to properly settle it.
Sanjar was a native, born the child of religiously minded middle managers that were among the first settlers of what would later be Steller Bay.
The MSI's Reform Minded Policies were cooked into its DNA from the Start but took until 2344 when the abandonment by the Halcyon Holding Bord forced innovation in the name of Survival.
The Monarchs of Monarch: A History of the Halcyon System's Most Dynamic Story by Fredrich Patterson, Opening Statements by Cecilia Robbins, 2361.
Sanjar looked at the Radio Transceiver room and sighed.
Well, you didn't expect settlement reports to be coming in this early...perhaps Monarch's inhabitants are as stubborn as you are.
"How many settlement pings did we get?" You said.
"Yes." The technician said.
As the Paper rollers and Computer Screens lit up across the room the dozen or so men and women worked to categorize them by importance, strength, size and wealth.
"Sir we have a ping from Starbrook something about income transmission frequencies looking for trade." A man said. "They're asking what to do with them?"
"Transcribe and copy all information and keep it on file, we'll sort it through later. Go by importance and strength via population." You ordered.
"Done sir....We're getting information and...Is that a jingle?" He said.
"Yes a Monarch Glacial Age Refined Glacial Water...All Natural." You said humming the little jingle along "What I can't get enjoyment from this Job?"
"They are offering supplies in exchange for food? Should we Authorise a meet-up?" He said.
"Do it and keep it calm and quiet." You ordered.
"We've Got a Shadow Military Colonel, Jiang Anders, Shadow Self Defence Force...They claim to be Shadow's Government in Exile, but that could mean anything." He said.
"We Got a Ping from a group called the Monarch Rangers, I think these are the Missing Earth Directorate Forces that Refused to Evacuate." Another Tech said. "Well one of them anyway."
"We've got Pings from...Iconoclasts." He said.
"Drown them out we don't need to deal with them." You said.
"So we got pings of the old Aristov Shipyards, someone's left after the bombings." He said. "As well as Arial Call signs...I think a Fighter defence Group is still on the planet."
"Make a note of it...Any notable bandits?" You said.
"None so far if they wanted to fight they're staying quiet." He said.
You sighed and held the bridge of your nose. "Just tell me some more good news beyond chatterers? "
"The Monarch Rangers are looking for some stolen mortars and they think it was used in the Attack on Starbrook Quarry."
Well, now you were getting somewhere...They had mortars, which both made it easier to track, but harder to pin down..
"Nomads...why did it have to be Nomads." You groaned as the reports came in.
"They're saying its a rogue section of Corpo Security forces...so it could be anyone, but we know the make of the model and the Commander's offering a squad in exchange for them...and if we bring them back in one piece." He said.
"Finally we're getting somewhere...Tell the Newspaper and Crier to relay the information and what we know, best thing to do now is to sort out what's left of the chaff." You said.
Now you had something to work with.
Reward: +1 Free AP from Trade with Glacial Age.
Contact was Somewhat Established with Other Monarch Factions, Shadow Defence Forces, Monarch Rangers, and Glacial Age among others. New Actions are available in order to contact them.
Monarch's Aristov Shipyard/Spaceport is somewhat intact and unclaimed.
The Earth Directorate 145th Arial Defence Squadron is in operation.
You now know who did it, Rogue Corporate Soldiers waving old War Trophies to get close.
The Great Game for Monarch Beguins!
AN: Welcome to the Great Game, you've got to Play, Trade and Pray your way to the Top of the Pile of Monarch and you've got the goods and the Means to do it.
But know you are not alone in your Clawing for Power and Influence, with the Iconoclasts, the Board and many others now working to see you subsumed into their own powerbase.
Give Feedback, Ask questions and by God Make Omakes, you get rewards for Omakes!
